NewsAlexander Isak interview: Sharpness, Merseyside derby and Hugo Ekitike support

The striker has appeared three times for Liverpool since recovering from his lengthy absence with an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.

His most recent outing came from the start in Tuesday's Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain, playing the opening 45 minutes.

"Obviously I was out for a long time and I've been working hard to get back," Isak told Liverpoolfc.com. "Very happy to be back out there.

"It's never easy being out for a long time. But I feel like I'm getting there and hopefully we can get the results as well."

Isak underwent surgery on the issue he sustained when scoring in the win at Tottenham Hotspur back in December.

He would be sidelined for just shy of 16 weeks, going through a painstaking rehabilitation process.

"That's pretty much every rehab – some are a bit more complicated than others," said the No.9. "But it was a difficult injury and it took a lot of hard work and long days to get here."

Unfortunately, it is an experience fellow forward Hugo Ekitike will now have to go through.

The Frenchman ruptured his Achilles tendon in the first half of the Anfield loss to PSG and will therefore be out for a 'long time', according to Arne Slot.

"Obviously we're all gutted for that injury," Isak continued. "It's very unfortunate for him and for the team as well. We're all behind him, supporting him."

Isak is braced for his second exposure to the Merseyside derby as the Reds head to Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday.

The Swede stepped off the bench in September's 2-1 victory over the Blues and such occasions are ones he relishes, having been on the scoresheet in derbies for former clubs Newcastle United, Real Sociedad and AIK.

He said: "I don't really know my record in those games! But I think those are the games that mean the most for the fans and for the players.

"It's those moments and those games we want to play, and hopefully we can make a good day out of it.

"I think we just need to do a good performance, work hard and play as a team. The quality is there, so we just need to show it."