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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has questioned commentators who “prefer different clubs” for their remarks over the team’s summer spending as he gets ready to give a first appearance to Alexander Isak.

The deadline day purchase of Sweden forward Isak from the Magpies for a all-time high sum of £125m took the Reds’ total outlay to £450 million on eight additions.

Isak is set to make his debut show for the Reds in their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid at their stadium on midweek.

In his ahead of the game press conference, Slot pointed out that the club’s record investment was countered by more than £250 million pounds received in sales, having invested just £10 million the previous summer.

“There’s so much attention on our summer acquisitions, especially from pundits that are biased toward a few rival sides in the league that fail to stop going on about £450 million,” the gaffer stated.

“Once more, £450 million pounds, £450 million pounds! But they overlook about almost £300 million pounds that we have sold squad members for. So, yes, if we aim to improve the team we must to use that much cash.”

Slot felt his team “completed great transfers”, given all eight of their acquisitions are at the age of 25 or under, and the team “ought to get praise” for the strategy it has adopted.

“I think it is just a positive that commentators inform everyone we have spent so much because that tells you the talent we brought in are viewed as very good footballers,” explained the coach.

“Some different clubs opt to bring in experienced professionals because they are match-fit, but we feel we have brought in talent who are 21, 22 [and] who are able.

“From my standpoint all the money we have used we earned independently by moving on players, and by winning the title after we failed to buy anybody at all.”

Isak did not appear in Liverpool’s narrow win at the Clarets on the weekend – the initial fixture since he joined Anfield – because he is still below par of full fitness.

The Swedish international practiced by himself at old team the Magpies, in a effort to push through his move to Anfield, and needs additional work to get up to speed after missing pre-season.

The player’s only outing this season came for the national team in an cameo appearance from the bench in a 2-0 defeat by their opponents last week.

Arne Slot said he is “100% sure” Isak will not play the full match against the Spanish club but hinted he will play a some minutes against the Spanish side.

“The striker is included of the team, so it's already a UCL game to look forward to, but if fans anticipate his appearance, that could indicate that could occur tomorrow as well,” Slot stated.

“So the time he is fit, match fit, [he] can play ninety minutes, and then the subsequent phase is playing three times in a week full matches.

“And that is what he has to do; finding the net and doing special things in offense is something he will certainly do. The main hurdle he has is to become so fit that he's first of all ready to do what he did last season.”