Liverpool boss Arne Slot says his center-backs will have to be very alert against the impressive Alexander Isak as the Reds welcome Newcastle United to Anfield in the Premier League this midweek.
In Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, though, Liverpool has the ideal players to be able to cope with the Swede. Slot believes keeping the ball away from Isak will be crucial — with his form this season having been exceptional.
"It is an understatement to say Isak is in fine form," Slot said during his pre-match press conference. "He is in excellent form. The team performance will help us control him. The more ball possession we have the more we can control him although he is dangerous on counter-attacks.
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"We have two very good center-backs, which is definitely what you need when you face a striker with the quality of Isak. But it is not only about him; I like the style of play Eddie Howe has introduced. They are a team who has a very good game plan, very intense with or without the ball. That helps number nine as well, and he is not the only offensive threat they have."
Isak has scored 19 goals in the Premier League — only Mohamed Salah with 25 has more than him — and he netted a superb goal in the reverse fixture at St James' Park. But Slot is also wary of the other attacking players that Newcastle possesses.
"Anthony Gordon is a big threat and the right winger as well," he continued. "Newcastle can score a lot of goals. They have so much offensive threat. Normally they are not a team that concedes many, with very aggressive defending. They kept Arsenal away from their goal (in the Carabao Cup semi-final) similar to what we did at City."
Liverpool.com says: Isak is a huge threat and Liverpool will have to take care of him. If Van Dijk and Konate play as they did against Manchester City, though, that should be enough. The Reds' midfield will need to be compact as well, just as it was at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the week.
