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Anfield head coach Arne Slot has criticised pundits who “show bias toward other sides” for their comments over the team’s off-season investment as he prepares to give a debut to Alexander Isak.

A deadline day signing of Swedish attacker the Newcastle star from Newcastle for a British record price of £125m took Anfield’s total outlay to £450m on 8 signings.

The new arrival is scheduled to earn his maiden appearance for the Reds in their European opener against Atletico at their stadium on this week.

In his pre-match press conference, the manager emphasized that Liverpool’s massive spending was offset by in excess of £250m recouped in player sales, having invested just £10 million the last transfer window.

“There is so much emphasis on our new additions, especially from pundits that prefer a few rival sides in the league that fail to stop speaking about £450 million,” Slot stated.

“Once more, £450m, £450 million! But they overlook about around £300 million that we have moved on [players] for. So, yes, if we want to boost the team we must to invest that much cash.”

Arne Slot felt Liverpool “did smart business”, given all eight of their acquisitions are younger than 25 or below, and the team “deserves to get credit” for the plan it has adopted.

“From my perspective it is simply a praise that people tell everyone we have used so much because that tells you the talent we signed are seen as excellent footballers,” said the coach.

“A number of rival clubs prefer bring in experienced professionals because they are match-fit, but we believe we have added talent who are 21, 22 [and] who are ready.

“In my opinion all the cash we have used we generated independently by moving on players, and by winning the league after we didn't buy a single player at all.”

The striker did not play in the Reds’ narrow win at Turf Moor on last weekend – the first fixture since he joined Liverpool – because he is still short of full fitness.

The forward worked out individually at previous club Newcastle United, in a effort to push through his transfer to Anfield, and needs additional work to get up to speed after missing pre-season.

His only outing this season came for Sweden in an 18-minute cameo from the bench in a two-goal defeat by their opponents last week.

Arne Slot said he is “absolutely confident” Isak will not play the full match against the Spanish club but indicated he will play a part against the Spanish side.

“The striker is a member of the squad, so it's now a UCL fixture to be excited about, but if fans anticipate his appearance, that could suggest that could occur on Wednesday as well,” the gaffer added.

“So the moment he is fit, sharp, [he] can play 90, and then the subsequent phase is playing several matches in a week complete games.

“And that is what he has to do; hitting the back of the net and doing outstanding things in the final third is something he will definitely do. The primary challenge he has is to become so sharp that he's above all able to do what he did last season.”