Liverpool: Alexander Isak will NOT start vs Burnley, says former Reds star | OneFootball

The new £125million needs to be slowly integrated after a stressful summer

Alexander Isak will not start for Liverpool this weekend.

That is according to former Reds star Joe Cole, who believes Arne Slot will take his time integrating their new £125million man, given that Hugo Ekitike has started the season strongly.

And Cole says the "smart" play from Liverpool is to gradually introduce Isak, given his lack of match fitness and the "hoo-ha" surrounding his arrival.

"I don't expect him to go into the team straight away," Cole told Paddy Power.

"I think they've got to be smart with him. And you've got to expect Liverpool to do that with all of their players - they've been blooded in. They are playing well. Ekitike’s scoring goals, there's no need to rush him.

"I think it's a smart thing to do, is just to feed him in, let him come off the bench, let all the hoo-ha die down, and just let him figure out how to become a Liverpool player. There's no rush. It's not like they've lost two of the first three and they need him right at it. You know, come on with 20 minutes, half an hour to go, and see how he goes."

He added: "You have to remember, this lad's had a horrendous summer. To push his move, what expense is him pushing his move at Newcastle to get there? All the bad energy coming from the Newcastle fans. It didn't sit right with a lot of football fans.

"He's been inactive in playing and training with top-level players for so long. So is that going to dull his ability straight away? ... All of that emotional baggage he's going to have to deal with now. Put that to bed and restart becoming a footballer."