Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is set to miss a significant number of weeks due to an injury sustained during the team’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on December 23, 2023. Isak opened the scoring for Liverpool shortly after halftime, but his celebration was cut short when he suffered an injury that has raised concerns about his availability for the coming fixtures.
The match, held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, saw Liverpool capitalize on a red card issued to Spurs midfielder Xavi Simons after a dangerous tackle on Virgil van Dijk. Following the dismissal, Isak netted the game’s first goal, but he was injured during the play that led to his score. As Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven challenged him, Isak’s ankle became trapped, forcing him off the pitch with assistance from the medical staff.
There was initial concern regarding the possibility of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear; however, The Athletic reported that the injury is likely a lower-leg issue rather than one affecting the knee. The club now faces an anxious wait to confirm the full extent of the injury.
In Isak’s absence, Hugo Ekitike has been called upon to step up. Ekitike scored Liverpool’s second goal later in the match, which put the team ahead 2-0 before Tottenham’s Richarlison pulled one back late on. The match concluded with Tottenham down to nine men after Cristian Romero received a second yellow card for a foul on Ibrahima Konate.
Pundit Shay Given, speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, emphasized the impact of Isak’s injury on Liverpool’s season. He noted, “It’s a big loss if Isak has gone off injured again. He’s had a stop-start campaign so far. But, Ekitike looks the real deal, doesn’t he? A brilliant striker and he’ll have to step up.” Given also highlighted the added pressure on Ekitike with Mohamed Salah unavailable for several matches due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Following the match, head coach Arne Slot provided a brief update on Isak’s condition, stating, “We’ll have to wait and see. But if a player scores and then gets injured and doesn’t try to come back on the pitch, that’s usually not a good thing.”
Liverpool is scheduled to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on December 27, 2023. Slot will have challenging decisions to make regarding his lineup, especially given that players Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, and Florian Wirtz also exited the match with injuries. Furthermore, Dominik Szoboszlai will be suspended for the Wolves match after receiving a yellow card during the game.
As Liverpool prepares for these upcoming challenges, the squad’s depth will be put to the test, particularly with key players sidelined. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining the trajectory of their season as they aim to maintain momentum in the Premier League.
