Arne Slot has condemned the “reckless challenge” from Tottenham‘s Micky van de Ven which left Alexander Isak requiring surgery, with a ’10 out of 10′ chance of injury.
Van de Ven’s attempt to block Isak’s opening goal on Saturday saw the Tottenham defender execute a scissor challenge on Liverpool’s No. 9.
It left Isak requiring surgery after fracturing his lower leg and damaging his ankle and he will now miss a significant portion of the season.
What is Alexander Isak‘s injury and will he be back this season?
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The injury: Isak has undergone surgery for a fractured lower leg and ankle damage following a “reckless” scissor challenge by Micky van de Ven.
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The verdict:Arne Slot slammed the tackle, claiming there was a ’10 out of 10′ chance of a serious injury resulting from that specific type of challenge.
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The absence: Isak is expected to be sidelined for a “couple of months,” leaving Slot to urge his available players to “roll their sleeves up.”
Speaking in his pre-Wolves press conference on Tuesday, Slot said: “It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months.
“That’s a big, big, big disappointment for him and as a result of course also for us.”
Slot later turned his focus to the tackle from his fellow Dutchman, describing it as a “reckless challenge” which always had a “serious chance” of inflicting a long-term injury.
“This was for me a reckless challenge,” he told reporters.
“I think I’ve said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons, which was for me completely unintentional, and I don’t think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.
“The tackle of Van de Ven, I think if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there is a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”
The Liverpool head coach is confident Isak will feature again before the end of the season, describing him as “unlucky” with the timing of his injury having been closing in on full fitness after a difficult start.
Missing a number of other players including Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai, Slot has urged those available to “roll their sleeves up” during the festive period.
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 20, 2025: Liverpool's Alexander Isak is assisted off the pitch injured during the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I think my first and only thoughts are on the upcoming two games. Two difficult ones again, two home ones that’s really nice,” he continued.
“So I think it’s a time for the players we do have available to do what they’ve done a few times: roll their sleeves up.
“Not only our players, our fans as well, to help us in the best possible way to get the results we want in the upcoming two games.
“Because the players that are available need to give everything they have, as the fans usually do and I expect them to do now again as well.”