Liverpool legend explains why he wants Alexander Isak home early from World Cup

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Liverpool record transfer Alexander Isak is expected to lead the line for Sweden when they get their 2026 World Cup campaign up and running in the early hours of tomorrow morning (Monday).It is imperative a Sweden side managed by former West Ham United, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter get off to a winning start given what lies in wait in Group E.After taking on Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium (3am kick-off BST), the Blue and Yellow then face the Netherlands and Japan.But even if Sweden were to slip out of the tournament before the round of 32 gets under way, that would be no bad thing where Isak is concerned.That's the view of Liverpool 2005 Champions League-winning hero Vladimir Smicer, who has been talking the £125m striker after a difficult first season at Anfield that was blighted by a lack of fitness, form and serious injury.Smicer, who scored in normal time and then in the penalty shootout in the unforgettable Istanbul success 21 years ago, said: "To be honest, I'd prefer if Alexander Isak wasn't playing in the World Cup."He should have two or three weeks rest after the season and then start a six-week preparation for next season. I think that's what he was missing this season: being fit for Liverpool.

He probably had a little rest after the season and then started his training camp with Sweden before the World Cup."Maybe the training camp helps him a little bit, but I don't think he'll be a hundred percent fit for the World Cup. I hope so, but I don't believe it."From a Liverpool perspective, I’d prefer Sweden to go out quickly.

Then he can have a rest and join the Liverpool training camp before the season."On the other hand, I would like to see him scoring goals because I still believe we bought the right player and he will score many goals for Liverpool."I'm not sure about his fitness and I hope he will not get injured in the World Cup. I pray he will be okay and have a good World Cup for his confidence."It's difficult because all the players going far in the World Cup won't have a lot of preseason training sessions, which is a worry."They won't have a lot of pre-season training sessions, so that's a little bit worrying."Isak missed the vast majority of pre-season one year ago after trying to push through his protracted British transfer record move from Newcastle United.That forced the 26-year-old to play catch up and while not helped by a serious leg injury that ruled him out for nearly four months, he ended his debut campaign with the Reds with just four goals to his name.It is unlikely that Sweden will go far in the World Cup but Smicer reckons Isak's Liverpool team-mate Alisson Becker can win the tournament with Brazil, who made a shaky start to their campaign with a 1-1 draw with Morocco in the early hours of this morning (Sunday).“I think the Brazilian and Argentinian teams have good squads," the former Czech Republic star said to Casinostugan."I don't know about the Netherlands, it doesn't seem like they are in a good situation with their strikers.