Slot Continues Playing Isak Into Form Despite Difficult Start

Arne Slot’s decision to give Alexander Isak his fifth start of the season despite the striker’s goal drought demonstrated the manager’s faith in his record signing. Rather than dropping Isak or reducing his minutes, Slot persisted with the Swedish international, believing that playing through difficulties represented the best path to finding form.
This approach carries risks. Continuing to field a struggling player can damage confidence further if performances don’t improve. Teammates may question selection decisions when a high-profile signing repeatedly fails to deliver. Supporters grow impatient when expensive players don’t meet expectations. Slot accepted these risks in pursuit of long-term gain.
The decision to persist with Isak was made easier by Hugo Ekitiké’s back injury, which limited Slot’s striking options. However, the manager could have adjusted formations or deployed other players in different roles rather than sticking with his struggling record signing. That he maintained faith demonstrated genuine belief in Isak’s quality and potential.
The breakthrough goal against West Ham vindicated Slot’s patience, at least partially. Isak’s composed finish showed the quality that convinced Liverpool to invest £135 million, suggesting confidence is building and adaptation is progressing. One goal doesn’t solve all problems, but it provides a foundation for improvement.
Playing strikers into form represents a calculated gamble. Some players respond positively to continued opportunities, gradually building confidence and sharpness through regular minutes. Others spiral downward when goals don’t come, with each missed chance increasing pressure. Slot bet that Isak belongs to the former category, and against West Ham, that bet began paying dividends. The challenge now is building on this breakthrough, turning one goal into consistent scoring that justifies both the transfer fee and the manager’s continued faith in difficult circumstances.