Alexander Isak limped out of Liverpool’s clash with Tottenham just seconds after scoring the opening goal, after appearing to injure his ankle. The Sweden international came off the bench at half-time but had to be withdrawn shortly after a lunge from Micky van de Ven left him writhing in pain on the turf.
Isak suffers injury
Isak had been named on the bench for the north London encounter but was introduced at half-time, with the scores level and Spurs down to ten men following Xavi Simons’ red card for a late challenge on Virgil van Dijk. The Sweden forward opened the scoring in the 56th minute but was substituted just minutes later, after Van de Ven’s desperate attempt to block his shot left him on the turf. Jeremie Frimpong replaced him, with medical staff assisting Isak off the pitch.
After an impressive 2024-25 campaign with Newcastle, helping them win the Carabao Cup—beating Liverpool in the final—and securing a top-five finish to qualify for the Champions League, Isak attracted significant attention. The reigning English champions signed him for £125 million ($167m) over the summer, a British record, but he has struggled to find his form at Merseyside and has not yet met the high expectations.
Before his goal against Spurs, Isak’s only other Premier League strike for the Reds came in a 2-0 win over West Ham in November.
Reflecting on his struggles, Isak told Sportbladet: “No, I don’t think so. I don’t really have the answer to that. The team-wise thing – it’s clear that it’s been slow, but that’s how it is in football. There are always teams that are flying, and then it’s slower for others. It’s about turning that around. And for me too… it’s not the first time in my career that I’ve gone through a period like this, or been in bad shape. That’s how a football career works, it’s just something you have to fight your way out of.”
Liverpool’s collective struggles have mirrored Isak’s own. Slot’s first full campaign has demanded adaptation across the squad, with new signings settling in and established players adjusting to unfamiliar roles. Injuries have compounded the challenge, leaving rhythm elusive and confidence fragile. On the need for patience, Isak added: “That’s always what you hope for, that everything will just flow. But not everything goes as planned, and then you have to take it as it comes.”
Since the Reds’ loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last month, Slot’s side has gone unbeaten in their last six games across all competitions. With the win over Spurs on Saturday, Liverpool extended their winning streak to three matches and climbed to fifth in the Premier League.
The defending champions return to action on December 27, hosting Wolves at Anfield in the final Premier League game of the year.
