Alexander Isak was injured by a heavy challenge from Tottenham defender Micky van den Ven while opening the scoring in Liverpool’s 2-1 Premier League win at Tottenham on Saturday. The 26-year-old required lengthy treatment on the pitch before being assisted off by club medics.
Scans on Sunday revealed an ankle injury that included a fractured fibula, and Isak underwent surgery on Monday. Liverpool manager Arne Slot expects the striker to return and play again this season. Asked on Tuesday morning if there is a timeframe in mind for Isak’s return to action, Slot replied: “No, 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 that of course also for us.
“You join a new club and usually when you join a new club you are, and he was of course, very excited and you want to show immediately all the qualities you have but that was simply impossible. Maybe no-one understands but if you haven’t trained for three or four months on a serious level with the team and you’re playing in this league… in this league you need to be on the top of your game to impact a game of football.
“That took, which we all knew, months before we could bring him there because there was no pre-season, there were games, games, games. We had hardly any time to train, so we always knew that it would take him time and that’s why he is so unlucky that he is now injured because I think we all saw with his goal against West Ham, with this goal [against Tottenham], that he got closer and closer to the player he was at Newcastle.”
Alexander Isak has thanked fans for their support and pledged to “work hard” to return to full fitness as soon as possible. The Sweden international wrote on his Instagram story: “Gutted to be out for a while. Time to recover and support from the sideline. I will work hard to be back as soon as I possibly can. Thank you all reds and everyone else for the kind messages, it does not go unnoticed.”
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.