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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has questioned pundits who “favour different sides” for their remarks over the squad’s transfer window spending as he prepares to award a first appearance to new signing Isak.

A deadline day acquisition of Sweden striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a all-time high price of £125m took Anfield’s spending to £450 million on 8 players.

The new arrival is scheduled to get his maiden outing for the Reds in their UCL group stage game against Atletico Madrid at home on Wednesday.

At his pre-match press conference, the Dutchman emphasized that his side’s record outlay was countered by in excess of £250 million pounds earned in player sales, having spent just £10m the prior transfer window.

“There’s so much emphasis on our new acquisitions, especially from pundits that prefer a few rival sides in the league that fail to stop talking about £450 million,” Slot said.

“Let me say again, £450 million pounds, £450 million pounds! But they ignore about around £300 million pounds that we have sold squad members for. So, yes, if we aim to strengthen the squad we need to invest that much funds.”

The manager felt Liverpool “pulled off smart transfers”, given all eight of their acquisitions are at the age of 25 or less, and the team “should get praise” for the plan it has implemented.

“From my perspective it is simply a praise that commentators inform everyone we have spent so much because that shows you the talent we acquired are viewed as top-class professionals,” said the coach.

“Certain other clubs opt to bring in players in their late twenties because they are ready, but we believe we have brought in players who are in their early twenties [and] who are able.

“From my standpoint all the funds we have spent we generated independently by selling, and by winning the league after we failed to buy anybody at all.”

The striker did not appear in Liverpool’s narrow win at the Clarets on last weekend – the initial match since he signed for Anfield – because he is still short of sharpness.

The 25-year-old worked out individually at former side Newcastle United, in a effort to force through his transfer to Anfield, and requires further work to get match-ready after not participating in pre-season.

The player’s only outing this season came for the national team in an 18-minute cameo from the sidelines in a 2-0 defeat by the Kosovo national team last week.

Slot said he is “absolutely confident” the new signing will not play the entire game against the Spanish club but suggested he will play a role against the Spanish side.

“Isak is included of the squad, so it's certainly a European match to look forward to, but if fans anticipate his appearance, that could indicate that could occur tomorrow as well,” the gaffer continued.

“So the time he is prepared, sharp, [he] can play 90, and then the subsequent phase is playing three times in a week complete games.

“And that is what he has to do; scoring goals and doing special things in attack is something he will 100% do. The main challenge he has is to become so ready that he's above all able to do what he did last season.”