Newcastle striker Alexander Isak suffered a suspected broken leg after Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven's tackle during Liverpool's 2-1 victory
18:25, 22 Dec 2025
Alexander Isak of Liverpool leaves the game injured during the Premier League match against Tottenham
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Alexander Isak suffered a suspected broken leg over the weekend
Liverpool and Tottenham have been given a new referee verdict on Micky van de Ven's challenge on Alexander Isak, which left the forward with a suspected broken leg.
Arne Slot's side secured a tight 2-1 win on Saturday, with Isak scoring the first goal in the second half. However, after finding the back of the net, a sliding tackle from Van de Ven caught Isak's leg as he planted it, forcing him off the field.
The immediate worry shown by his teammates painted a bleak picture. A stretcher was called for, but Isak managed to hobble off with help from Liverpool's medical staff.
Alexander Isak of Liverpool scores for 0-1 but suffers an injury during the Premier League match against Tottenham
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Micky van de Ven was not shown a red card for his tackle that left Liverpool striker Alexander Isak with a suspected broken leg
While initial fears of a potential ACL injury were quickly dismissed by the club, the suspected diagnosis is no less serious.
Reports on Sunday suggested a possible lower leg break, but the severity of the injury and the length of recovery time remain uncertain, pending further scans and updates from the club.
Understandably, the incident has led many observers to question why Van de Ven wasn't penalised given the severity of the tackle.
Replays showed that he lunged into the challenge with little chance of getting the ball, resulting in a severe injury to the £125m player, reports the Mirror.
The incident has sparked a debate, with pundits on Sky Sports' Ref Watch having differing views on whether it was a red-card offence.
Ex-pro Jay Bothroyd argued that while Van de Ven's intention wouldn't have been to injure Isak, the reckless nature of the tackle should have led to a sending off.
"Van de Ven has not intentionally tried to hurt Isak," he explained. "Obviously, he is desperate to stop a goal and he's coming across to stop the shot.
"This is an example where, yes, Isak has scored, but it should still be a red card. He's lunging, he's going into him. Every explanation you want to give for a red-card challenge is there. Because he's scored, they've let it go.
"He's lunged, he's out of control. He's trying to make a block but he's never going to get there. If that's in the middle of the park, that's a red card."
Nevertheless, former referee Dermot Gallagher held a different view, insisting that the challenge wasn't worthy of a red card and that the consequence of the tackle shouldn't influence its assessment.
"I can't see that he's done anything that a footballer wouldn't," he explained. "I would be astonished if that was given as a red card anywhere on the field.
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"Players mistime challenges all the time. He's slightly late... it's not a red card. Whether it be in the penalty area, in the D, the centre circle or the other half."