Arne Slot's masterplan for Alexander Isak working PERFECTLY

Liverpool have been given a huge Alexander Isak boost this week. The plan is working perfectly.

Upon arriving on Merseyside, the Swedish striker has been battling adversity, training extra hard to get into the side after spending most of his summer as an outsider at Newcastle, to force his move.

Fitness-wise, however, the £125m man could not be unveiled on the pitch straight away. He needed to get into shape first, preparing his muscles for the workload that Liverpool were looking to put on him, alongside tactically getting himself up to speed under Arne Slot. The playing style is different.

One of his replacements on Tyneside in Yoane Wissa got injured by pushing himself before he was ready, and Liverpool have been adamant that Isak can't be allowed to fall into a similar situation. As such, while it was disappointing not seeing him play, fans knew that it was only a matter of waiting.

Recently, the Swede has been increasingly involved in matches, and last night's performance for his national team proved to the Reds that their masterplan is working perfectly. He's right on track.

Isak is close to full fitness

The 26-year-old captained Sweden against Switzerland on Friday evening, and alongside starting the match, he also spent the full 90 minutes on the pitch. At no point did he need to be substituted.

While you'd normally not think twice about such a notion, the playing time represents real progress for Isak, especially since Anthony Elanga was on the bench, ready to be called on when required.

Head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson was integral in helping to build Isak's fitness in the last international break in September, deciding against playing him as often as he would've liked because the player wasn't ready. At the time, Slot was really appreciative of his cooperation with Liverpool's masterplan.

So you can trust that Isak was only given the full match because Tomasson felt he was ready to take on such a workload. And throughout the contest, he was threatening and got away without an injury.

He hit the post in a fluffed close-range effort, but he also created a big chance, alongside making a key pass. He was heavily involved in Sweden's attacking efforts, it just wasn't their night in the end.

Liverpool know that goals and assists in the Premier League won't be an issue with Isak, given how impressive his track-record is, scoring 52 goals and getting eight assists in the last two seasons.

You'll constantly find him in promising positions, it's just getting his teammates used to his game so that the final ball is perfect for him to latch on to. Eventually, things will click and he won't look back.

What had been a concern was how long it was taking for his fitness to meet the right levels to take on the workload expected of him. Now, however, it appears we're now at the end of his 'pre-season'.

That's an enormous boost. The masterplan of easing him back into football looks to have paid off and moving forward, Liverpool will finally be able to regularly deploy their £130m man at full capacity.

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