Liverpool are anxiously awaiting updates on Alexander Isak’s condition after the striker suffered a cruel injury at the very moment he appeared to be enjoying a defining breakthrough in his Reds career
Arne Slot’s side were pushing hard for an opening goal in their Premier League clash with Tottenham, who were already down to ten men, when Liverpool’s two marquee summer signings finally combined to produce a moment of quality.
In the 56th minute, a careless pass from Cristian Romero was seized upon, allowing Florian Wirtz to find space and slide a perfectly weighted ball into Isak’s path. The Swedish forward showed great composure to finish clinically and put Liverpool ahead.
The goal marked only Isak’s second in the Premier League since his high-profile move to Anfield, while it was also a landmark moment for Wirtz, whose assist represented his first direct goal contribution in England’s top flight. For a brief second, the strike looked like a symbolic turning point for the £225 million duo, suggesting they were finally beginning to justify their hefty price tags.
However, the celebrations were immediately overshadowed by concern. As the ball hit the net, Isak was left on the ground in obvious agony after being caught by a desperate challenge from Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven. The centre-back failed to make a clean block and instead scissored Isak’s legs, sending him crashing to the turf.
Rather than celebrating with his teammates, Isak remained writhing in pain as players gathered around him.
Liverpool’s medical staff quickly rushed onto the pitch to assess what appeared to be a leg injury. For a tense moment, it looked as though the forward might need to be stretchered off, raising fears of a serious setback.
Although Isak eventually managed to leave the pitch on his own, he was clearly struggling and required the support of two club doctors as he slowly made his way to the touchline.
His night ended immediately after his goal, as Jeremie Frimpong was introduced in his place, making Isak’s final contribution a strike that could yet prove costly if the injury turns out to be severe.
Commentating on the incident, Gary Neville described the scene as deeply unfortunate, noting that the goal had the potential to be a major confidence boost for Isak. Instead, the striker was left facing another period of uncertainty just as momentum seemed to be building.
The 25-year-old had only come on at half-time following a largely uninspiring first half from both teams. His impact was instant, adding energy and purpose to Liverpool’s attack.
His goal followed his maiden Premier League strike for the club, which came late in November against West Ham, and was just his second goal in all competitions since completing a British-record transfer from Newcastle.
So far this season, Isak has struggled to escape the shadow of Hugo Ekitike, who has been in prolific form. The French forward underlined his importance once again by doubling Liverpool’s lead and taking his league tally to eight goals, leaving Isak still searching for consistency as well as fitness.
