Along with Alexander Isak: Another Liverpool player could be included in squad for first time

It was hardly a bombshell given what Arne Slot said before the game.

When Liverpool’s squad arrived at Turf Moor and Alexander Isak was not with his new team-mates, it was the main talking point. Yet it did not come as a shock.

While the Reds might have paid £125 million - a British transfer record - to sign Isak and end a protracted saga, the circumstances that he arrived in have hardly been ideal. Given his lack of training at Newcastle United throughout the summer as he pursued a switch to Anfield, he is well short of full match fitness.

Slot stated at his pre-match press conference that Isak had been signed for six years and not just the upcoming period. Ensuring he does not sustain a long-term injury is crucial.

The Sweden international is likely to appear in Liverpool’s squad for tomorrow’s Champions League curtain-raiser, though. He will have had a full week of training, with Slot believing that will allow Isak to play 45 minutes against either Atletico Madrid or Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.

UEFA allow 12 substitutes compared to the Premier League’s nine, which means room is available on the bench. What’s more, Federico Chiesa cannot face Atletico having been omitted from Liverpool’s squad for the league phase of Europe’s elite club competition so Slot will want another senior attacker.

Giovanni Leoni is also set to be involved. The centre-back is fourth choice in the centre-back pecking order despite signing for £26 million from Parma. Aged just 18, he has to be patient and a debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup next week is in the offing.

And it is likely that Freddie Woodman will be involved in Slot’s set-up for a maiden competitive game. The 28-year-old moved to Merseyside knowing he would be third choice goalkeeper. A chief part of why he was surprisingly signed as he helped Liverpool meet the homegrown quota in Europe. Liverpool require cover for Alisson Becker and Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Woodman has spent the majority of his career playing in the Football League despite spending eight years on the books of Newcastle United. In truth, he could have earned himself a move to the Championship where would have been No.1 having played for Swansea City, Preston North End and Bournemouth at second-tier level. Instead, he decided to move to Liverpool where he would have to settle for a support-act role.

Yet life as a third-choice goalkeeper isn’t as easy as some might think. Any extra shooting practice will require Woodman and Armin Pecsi, the young stopper signed from Hungary, to try to thwart Mo Salah, Florian Wirtz and Co. Woodman also travels to away games only to watch on from the periphery. He had to help warm up Alisson Becker in the pouring Lancashire rain before Sunday’s 1-0 win at Burnley before showering and taking his place on the bench, knowing he was not required.

However, Woodman - who played twice in pre-season against his former club Preston and Athletic Bilbao - will likely get a taste of being involved in a Champions League fixture under the lights at Anfield. It will be an occasion he can remember.