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Anfield manager Arne Slot has hit out at experts who “favour other clubs” for their comments over the club’s off-season investment as he gears up to give a first appearance to Alexander Isak.

A deadline day purchase of Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a British record price of £125 million took Liverpool’s total outlay to £450m on eight new signings.

Isak is scheduled to earn his debut appearance for Liverpool in their European first match against the Spanish side at Anfield on midweek.

During his pre-match media briefing, the Dutchman pointed out that the club’s unprecedented spending was countered by in excess of £250 million earned in player sales, having spent just £10 million the prior off-season.

“There’s so much focus on our new signings, especially from commentators that are biased toward a few rival teams in the country that can’t stop speaking about £450 million,” Slot remarked.

“I repeat, £450 million pounds, £450m! But they ignore about around £300 million that we have transferred out squad members for. So, of course, if we aim to improve the squad we have to invest that much funds.”

Slot felt Liverpool “pulled off smart business”, given all eight of their new players are younger than 25 or under, and the club “should get credit” for the strategy it has adopted.

“From my perspective it is only a positive that pundits tell everyone we have invested so much because that indicates you the players we acquired are regarded as top-class players,” said the manager.

“Some rival clubs prefer bring in 27-year-olds because they are ready, but we feel we have signed individuals who are young [and] who are able.

“From my standpoint all the cash we have used we made independently by moving on players, and by claiming the title after we didn't buy anyone at all.”

Isak did not feature in the Reds’ narrow win at Burnley on last weekend – the first game since he arrived at Liverpool – because he is still short of full fitness.

The Swedish international worked out by himself at old side the Magpies, in a attempt to push through his transfer to the Reds, and must undergo extra work to get fully fit after sitting out pre-season.

The player’s only outing this season came for the national team in an brief cameo from the substitutes in a two-goal defeat by their opponents last week.

The manager said he is “completely certain” the striker will not play the entire game against Atletico but hinted he will play a some minutes against the Spanish side.

“Isak is part of the group, so it's now a UCL fixture to look forward to, but if people anticipate his playing time, that could mean that could happen on Wednesday as well,” Slot continued.

“So the point he is fit, match fit, [he] can play ninety minutes, and then the subsequent phase is playing multiple games in a week 90 minutes.

“And that is what he has to do; hitting the back of the net and doing special things in offense is something he will 100% do. The key hurdle he has is to become so fit that he's primarily prepared to do what he did last season.”