Alexander Isak was fit. He was available. Yet he stayed on the bench — but why? The answer is not as simple as it looks, and it leaves Liverpool fans with a few things to think about.
Alexander Isak’s absence against Slovenia has raised plenty of eyebrows, especially among Liverpool supporters who were hoping to see the striker build some rhythm.
The Sweden forward stayed on the bench for the entire match, a 1-1 draw that closed out a disappointing qualifying run for his country.
And while many assumed it was another injury setback, the real reason is a little different — and it offers a mix of relief and frustration for Reds fans.
Isak’s season at Liverpool has already been stop–start. The £125 million signing has battled groin trouble, limited minutes, and pressure that comes with a record fee.
He has only twice crossed the 70-minute mark under Arne Slot, and reportedly, the club still sees him as a long-term piece rather than a quick fix. That makes every missed chance to build fitness feel even heavier.
But on Tuesday night, the story took a new turn.
The decision that surprised everyone
Despite being available, Isak did not feature at all.
According to reports in Sweden, Graham Potter had nine players — including Isak — just one yellow card away from suspension for the World Cup play-offs in March.
With Sweden already out of automatic qualification and nothing riding on the Slovenia match, the risk was clear.
A booking now could have ruled Isak out of the one-off play-off semi-final, a game Sweden can’t afford to face without their main striker. So the staff reportedly chose caution over match rhythm.
Stefan Pettersson, Sweden’s Head of Men’s National Team, told Sportsbladet:
“I asked for some supplementary letters from Fifa and UEFA about these things to double check what it might say in them.” He added:
“[It’s] not an ideal situation. You don’t want players who go on the pitch and can’t be aggressive. You’re not yourself then.”
For Sweden, it was a simple equation: protect the striker now, avoid a bigger problem later.
But did Liverpool lose out?
This is where the plot twists. For Liverpool, this international break was a chance for Isak to pick up sharpness. He has missed six of the club’s 14 matches since joining, and minutes are gold for a forward trying to settle in.
Staying glued to the bench means he returns to Merseyside exactly as he left — short of rhythm and short of confidence.
For a club that needs goals and needs them fast, that’s not ideal.
And yes, Liverpool fans have seen enough “false nine dramas” to last a lifetime — but they didn’t expect the lead character this time to be Isak.
A delicate balance between safety and lost opportunity
Sweden protected their star man from suspension. Liverpool missed an important chance for him to find form.
Both sides had valid reasons — but only one will feel the consequences in the next game.
Isak now heads back to Anfield needing to flick the switch. His fee demands impact. His minutes demand consistency. And his next run of games could set the tone for his entire Liverpool career.
What Anfield Home thinks?
This feels like a sensible decision for Sweden but a frustrating one for Liverpool. Isak avoided injury and suspension, which matters long-term.
But the Reds badly needed him to pick up momentum, not dust on the bench. For now, Liverpool fans will hope the missed minutes don’t turn into missed chances when he’s back in red.