Liverpool’s Alexander Isak faces two months out with broken leg after ‘reckless’ tackle: Slot

LONDON – Striker Alexander Isak faces two months on the sidelines following surgery, after fracturing his leg in a “reckless challenge” from Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said on Dec 23.

The 26-year-old Swede, signed from Newcastle United for a British-record £125 million (S$217 million) in September, was injured while scoring in the Reds’ 2-1 away win on Dec 20.

“It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” Slot told reporters. “So, yeah, that’s a big, big, big disappointment for him. And as a result also of course for us.

“The tackle of van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there’s a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury,” he said.

“Alexander Isak today successfully underwent surgery on the injury he sustained on Saturday,” a Liverpool statement said on Dec 22. “After diagnosis, an operation was completed today on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.”

Isak’s injury is the latest setback in his disappointing start to his career with Liverpool. He has scored just three goals in 16 appearances since completing his protracted move to Anfield.

Slot admitted it had been a “challenging and difficult period” for his new striker but believes Isak could still play a valuable role later in the season.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season programme and arrived at Liverpool well behind his teammates in terms of fitness.

His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

Isak’s absence will be a major blow for Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in 2026.

It leaves the Dutchman with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past three league games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

“It’s a huge blow because I think Liverpool were actually one attacker short anyway,” former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. “It’s just really bad luck for Isak. It’s probably one of the first glimpses we’ve seen of his real quality in a Liverpool shirt.”

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defence collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.

Speaking immediately after the game, Slot had admitted Isak’s injury was “not a good thing”.

Now he is has to plan without Isak for a sustained period. That raises the prospect of Liverpool moving for an attacker in the January transfer window.

But Slot was tightlipped when asked about a potential move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo.

The Ghanaian has been linked with a move to Anfield and Carragher said: “I think we all know he’s got a buyout clause in January and then you’ve got wide players in Salah and (Cody) Gakpo, who’ve played a lot of games through the middle as well.”

Isak’s injury may also sway Liverpool to keep Salah, who had been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia following his recent claim that he had been thrown under the bus by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot.

Salah’s rant, which came after he was left on the bench for three successive matches, prompted Liverpool to leave him out of the squad for a Champions League match at Inter Milan.

But he returned to action as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.

“I think for certain now Mo Salah will be staying at the club. I think there’s a good chance Harvey Elliott will come back from his loan at Aston Villa as well,” Carragher said. AFP