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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has criticised experts who “show bias toward different clubs” for their remarks over the squad’s transfer window spending as he gears up to award a first appearance to Alexander Isak.

A transfer deadline purchase of Swedish attacker the Newcastle star from the Magpies for a British record sum of £125m took Liverpool’s spending to £450 million on 8 players.

Isak is set to make his first appearance for Slot’s side in their UCL group stage game against the Spanish side at home on midweek.

In his ahead of the game press conference, Slot highlighted that his side’s massive outlay was offset by in excess of £250 million pounds recouped in sales, having invested just £10 million the last off-season.

“There’s so much focus on our summer signings, especially from pundits that are biased toward a few different sides in the country that cannot stop going on about £450 million,” the gaffer stated.

“Once more, £450 million pounds, £450m! But they ignore about almost £300 million pounds that we have moved on [players] for. So, indeed, if we need to improve the squad we need to use that much funds.”

Slot felt his team “pulled off smart deals”, given all eight of their new players are younger than 25 years old or under, and the organization “deserves to get praise” for the approach it has implemented.

“From my perspective it is simply a praise that commentators remind everyone we have spent so much because that indicates you the players we acquired are viewed as top-class players,” explained the manager.

“Some different sides prefer bring in 27-year-olds because they are match-fit, but we think we have signed talent who are young [and] who are prepared.

“I think all the money we have invested we generated ourselves by moving on players, and by claiming the league after we did not buy anybody at all.”

Isak did not feature in Liverpool’s narrow win at the Clarets on the weekend – the initial game since he joined Liverpool – because he is still lacking of sharpness.

The 25-year-old worked out individually at old team Newcastle United, in a effort to secure through his move to Liverpool, and needs further work to get up to speed after not participating in pre-season.

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

The manager said he is “completely certain” Isak will not play 90 minutes against the Spanish club but suggested he will play a role against the top-flight side.

“The striker is included of the team, so it's now a Champions League fixture to look forward to, but if supporters hope for his appearance, that could mean that could occur on Wednesday as well,” the boss stated.

“So the time he is fit, match fit, [he] can play 90, and then the subsequent phase is playing three times in a week full matches.

“And that is what he has to do; hitting the back of the net and doing special things in attack is something he will certainly do. The primary obstacle he has is to become so ready that he's first of all ready to do what he did last season.”