LONDON; Liverpool fans must wait for a first sight of British record signing Alex Isak. The Sweden striker, signed just before the international break, was not even in the manager Arne Slot’s squad for the 1-0 win at Burnley. A stoppage time penalty from Mohamed Salah maintained the league’s last 100pc record.

Isak played the last eight minutes of Sweden’s two-goal defeat in Kosovo a week ago but he has not started a competitive match since Newcastle home defeat by Everton last May. He then missed all of pre-season during the standoff before his £125m move to Anfield.

Liverpool’s success in winning all four opening matches in their Premier League title defence means Slot is under no pressure to rush Isak into action before he is fully fit and integrated. Slot has no need to doubt his attack. Liverpool have scored in all their last 37 league games.

Slot said: “Compliments to Burnley for the way they defended. It was difficult for us to find an opening and a few times we were close. We needed a moment of luck, or a moment of magic. We didn’t have the magic but we had the luck.”

As for Isak, Slot added: “He’s in his second or third week of pre-season. We have given him a proper week and then we think maybe he will get more than 10 or 15 minutes in our Wednesday game and that’s the way to build him up.”

Promoted Burnley packed defence with the intent of holding Liverpool at bay. That strategy was sufficient in the first half when Liverpool, Florian Wirtz included, were short of rhythm and attacking penetration. They were disrupted by injuries in particular to Alexis Mac Allister. The midfielder was injured after a clash by Lesley Ugochukwu and had to be replaced at halftime.

The change improved Liverpool’s level of performance because Conor Bradley came in at rightback and Dominik Szoboszlai moved back up into his usual midfield slot. Liverpool raised the tempo but Wirtz still struggled to finding space and Burnley continued to restrict Liverpool to long-range efforts at goal.

Hugo Etikite gave way to Federico Chiesa with Wirtz playing up alongside him in a dual spearhead. A foul on Wirtz by Ugochukwu then earned the defender a second yellow card and red.

Wirtz was replaced by teenager Rio Ngumoha but it was the other substitute, Jeremie Frimpong, who made the late difference. His cross, five minutes into stoppage time, was handed by Florentino Hannibal. Salah duly struck another late, late winner from the penalty spot.

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