Liverpool are gearing up for a clash with Wolves and Hugo Ekitike will shoulder a larger goal burden after Alexander Isak was ruled out for months with a broken leg, leading to a big fallout
08:03, 24 Dec 2025
Alexander Isak's injury has sparked a war of words
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Alexander Isak's injury has sparked a war of words(Image: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Arne Slot's Liverpool beat nine-man Tottenham in their last Premier League encounter but came out of the game counting the cost of the victory.
The Reds emerged 2-1 winners but suffered a massive blow with Alexander Isak breaking his leg. Tottenham's Xavi Simons received his marching orders in the first half during Liverpool's visit to the capital, and the visitors quickly made their numerical advantage count when Isak coolly slotted his team in front on 56 minutes. However, defender Micky van de Ven's challenge caught the Swedish striker, who was forced off with what turned out to be a fractured leg.
Isak went under the knife on Monday and faces several months on the sidelines, ruling him out of the Reds' upcoming Premier League fixture against Wolves. Hugo Ekitike will now bear greater responsibility for finding the net, with his boss identifying one particular area for improvement, ahead of the January transfer window. Here's all the latest news from Anfield.
Liverpool ace Hugo Ekitike has been one of the best signings of the season so far
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Liverpool ace Hugo Ekitike has been one of the best signings of the season so far(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike demand
Ahead of Liverpool's meeting with Wolves, Slot acknowledged his expectations for Ekitike to develop physically as he takes on increased responsibility, , reports the Mirror.
Slot commented: "Still he needs to get stronger but he has already become stronger. I don't think he changed a lot in all his offensive qualities. He's fast, he can score a goal, he has great footwork, he's got dribbling skills. He has so much in his locker, I think that's the way you say it here.
"I think he's adjusted to the Premier League now. Now he has to not only adjust but make sure, with his physique, how fast he is. He can become also physically outstanding, and that's where he's working really hard.
"By the way, in the last three, four minutes, he was very, very, very tired in the Tottenham game as well. I see this more often but that is maybe also because so many of the same players constantly have to play, there's hardly any rest for them.
"I have to give them a lot of compliments that they constantly can bring what they are bringing, playing so many games, hardly any rest because we don't have so many chances to rotate. Every single time they fight, fight, fight from the first second until the last and Hugo is one of them."
Arne Slot slams Tottenham star
Arne Slot speaks
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Arne Slot speaks(Image: LFC TV)
While Slot was eager to heap praise on Ekitike following his fitness demands, the Dutchman wasn't quite so generous with his words regarding Tottenham's Van de Ven.
It was the defender who lunged in attempting to thwart Isak's goal-bound effort and wound up catching the striker badly. Isak's leg became trapped between both of Van de Ven's and twisted horribly.
When questioned whether any disciplinary action should have followed, Slot was swift to condemn Van de Ven for what he branded a "reckless" tackle on his club-record £120million forward.
"It was a reckless challenge," said Slot. "I've said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons, which for me was completely unintentional. I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.
He added: "But the tackle of Van de Ven, if you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury."
Frank hits back
Thomas Frank
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Thomas Frank has defended his player(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank claimed Isak and Van de Ven have "sorted it out" and disagreed vehemently with the claim from Slot that his defender's tackle was "reckless".
He said: "I am obviously disagreeing [with Slot] in many ways. We are talking about a defender that will do everything he can to avoid the goal.
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"It is a transition, there is a ball down the side and he is doing everything he can to block the shot so he is sliding. Unfortunately Isak plants his foot so it makes it look worse than it is, but that is a natural action for a defender.
"Put it this way, if my defender does not do that, they are not true defenders! Reckless challenge? I don’t think you see anything like that from Micky. He is very fair and I know the two players have sorted it out, so that’s a good sign."