Freddie Ljungberg has Liverpool injury theory after Alexander Isak only played 18 minutes for Sweden

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Speculation is rife in Sweden over Alexander Isak’s 18-minute cameo for his national team in their shock defeat to Kosovo on Monday.

Isak has not featured so far this season after sitting out pre-season at Newcastle in a bid to force through a transfer to Liverpool. That saga went down to the last hour of the transfer window, with Liverpool sealing a British-record £125m deal.

The striker headed straight off to international duty but was an unused substitute last week in Sweden’s draw in Slovenia. He was on the bench again vs Kosovo on Monday, coming on late with the game already beyond the Swedes.

Isak played just 18 minutes, and Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson said ‘that was the maximum number of minutes’ he could give his number nine.

Freddie Ljungberg thinks Liverpool limited Alexander Isak’s minutes in Sweden fixtures vs Slovenia and Kosovo

With Sweden’s one point over two games putting their World Cup qualifying hopes at risk, they already sit five points off leaders Switzerland.

And former Sweden forward Freddie Ljungberg has told Viaplay that Tomasson’s explanation sounded like Liverpool insisted on their striker only playing 20 minutes this week.

“That’s what it sounded like. He said he played what he could,” Ljungberg said (via Sportbladet). Fellow pundit Erik Niva said: “My impression is that Liverpool had ordered a maximum of 20 minutes, absolutely no more. But that is speculation on my part and I don’t know.

“We will never know the truth. Because even if Liverpool has said one thing, Jon Dahl Tomasson will not admit it openly.”

Alexander Isak issues fitness update, denies Liverpool instructed Sweden to limit his minutes

For his part, Alexander Isak said he felt ‘okay’ after his cameo for Sweden, in which he was unable to get his nation back in the contest. He attempted four shots and looked lively, but did not score.

Alexander Isak statistics vs Kosovo (Source: Fotmob)

• Minutes – 18
• Shots – 4
• Shots on target – 3
• Expected goals – 0.38
• Touches – 17

Speaking after the game, which was his first minutes of the season and pre-season combined, he said: “It took 20 minutes and it felt okay.”

Isak also denied any conversations had taken place involving Liverpool telling Sweden not to play him this week.

“Not that I know of,” he said. “I’m with the national team now. Clubs and national teams have contact but it’s between them in such cases.”