Liverpool’s Alexander Isak is suspected to have broken his leg during the team’s win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, likely forcing him to spend several months on the sidelines, according to The Athletic.
The extent of the injury is still unclear since the team is still waiting on results from an MRI, though the Reds feared it is a serious one, according to the report. Should Isak be diagnosed with a lower leg fracture, it would likely require several months for him to heal and return to the pitch.
Isak sustained the injury in the 56th minute, shortly after coming on as a halftime substitute for Conor Bradley. He received a pass from Florian Wirtz as he made his way into the box, quickly taking a shot from close range. As the ball flew into the back of the net, though, Spurs’ Micky van de Ven approached Isak for a challenge and the Liverpool forward landed awkwardly. Isak did not join his teammates in the celebration, instead he received medical treatment and then walked off the pitch with the assistance of medical staff four minutes later.
The Sweden international’s diagnosis was not clear immediately after the game, with manager Arne Slot admitting he did not know the extent of the injury.
“If a player doesn’t even try to come back, that is usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that,” Slot said post-match. “That is just gut feeling and nothing medical … Let’s not be too negative yet. We don’t know yet, let’s hope he is back with us soon.”
Isak notched his second goal of the Premier League season before he came off injured and will likely miss an important stretch of the season, aiming to settle into his new surroundings after a slow start to life at Liverpool. The injury is expected to put a big dent in his first season at the club, though, as well as provide a new set of challenges in a difficult campaign for the reigning champions.
Liverpool’s festive fixtures
- Dec. 27: Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)
- Jan. 1: Leeds United (a)
- Jan. 4: Fulham (a)
- Jan. 8: Arsenal (a)
How will Liverpool cope without Alexander Isak?
Questions about how Liverpool will fare without Isak are peculiar ones since the 26-year-old has been off to a slow start since his $174 million move from Newcastle United over the summer. He arrived injured, though, and Slot argued that Isak’s early weeks with the Reds were like a preseason since the forward missed out on Newcastle’s preparation during a tense period between him and his old club, hampering his ability to perform upon arrival. As a result, he has not exactly been a staple for the Reds – he has nine starts between all competitions and just two league goals for the Reds so far.
Isak would have had more opportunities to impress during the festive fixtures, especially considering Liverpool’s absences. Mohamed Salah is currently with Egypt as they begin to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Cody Gakpo, who has four goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, is dealing with a muscle issue that will keep him out until the new year. Liverpool may have to rely solely on Hugo Ekitike, who has eight goals in his first Premier League season, during a busy period that ends with a trip to Arsenal on January 8.
Other options include Federico Chiesa and academy product Rio Ngumoha, though neither have started a league match this season.
It is unclear if Liverpool will dip into the transfer market specifically with Isak’s injury in mind, though the Reds have reportedly agreed to terms with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo over an $87 million move in January, per The Guardian. Semenyo has eight Premier League goals for Bournemouth this season but plays much more frequently on the wing, while Isak is more of a No. 9.
Sweden’s World Cup qualification fate
If Isak is diagnosed with a broken leg, he is likely to miss Sweden’s crucial World Cup qualifiers in March. Sweden are set to face Ukraine on March 26, the winner then meeting either Poland or Albania on March 31 for a berth at next summer’s tournament in North America. The eventual winner of that playoff will be placed into Group F at the World Cup, where they will face the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
Isak played three matches for Sweden in the first round of UEFA World Cup qualifying last fall, though he did not get on the scoresheet during a horrid run that saw the team score just four goals and concede 12 in six games. Sweden, though, were able to reach the playoff round – which will take place in March – because of their performance in the UEFA Nations League, a saving grace for a team that would otherwise be watching the World Cup from home.
Sweden will have to rely on the likes of Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres instead, neither of whom have been in particularly strong form this season. Gyokeres has five league goals for Arsenal this season but just one assist for Sweden in World Cup qualifiers, while Elanga has one goal for the national team during qualification but has yet to score in the Premier League this season.
