Arne Slot is hopeful Liverpool will see ‘best Alex’ as Alexander Isak nears return from injury

Arne Slot says Alexander Isak could rejoin Liverpool training by late March or early April.
The striker has been sidelined since December after breaking his leg and ankle against Tottenham.
Slot believes fans may still see the best of Isak before the season ends.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed that striker Alexander Isak could return to team training as early as next month, with optimism growing that supporters may still see the forward at his best before the season concludes.

Isak has been out of action since December after suffering serious leg and ankle injuries during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. The setback added to a challenging first campaign at Anfield for the £125 million signing, who joined from Newcastle United in the summer.

Speaking about the striker’s rehabilitation, Slot revealed encouraging progress in recent weeks.

“Alex has been on the pitch, not in football boots but in running shoes, for the first time this week,” Slot said. “That is an important step. These final stages of rehab can change quickly, but it is clear that if everything goes as planned, he will be available this season.”

Slot suggested that Isak could be back training with the group around the March international break, although he stressed caution.

“It will be somewhere around that period, end of March or start of April,” he added. “But being back with the group does not mean he is ready to start games. He has been out for months and we know from before that it takes time to reach top form again.”

The Sweden international has scored just three goals in 16 appearances across all competitions, having struggled for both consistency and fitness before his injury.

Slot believes a full preseason will be vital for Isak’s long term impact but remains hopeful that the striker can still make a meaningful contribution before the campaign ends.

“We have to give him time,” Slot said. “If a player has trained individually for four or five months, you cannot expect him to be at full speed immediately. We have not yet used the best Alex, but hopefully this season we will see it, and certainly in the years to come.”

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Hailey

Hailey Russell is a football journalist and former Division 1 collegiate athlete in the United States, bringing a unique blend of elite playing experience and professional insight to her work. Currently competing at the professional level in Europe, Hailey combines first-hand knowledge of the modern game with sharp analysis across match reports, player development, and tactical breakdowns.