Liverpool secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, but the win was overshadowed by a worrying injury to striker Alexander Isak. The Swedish international, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle in September for a British record transfer fee of £125 million ($166.2 million), scored the opening goal in the 56th minute before being forced off the pitch shortly after.
Isak, who came on as a halftime substitute, latched onto a through ball from Florian Wirtz and slotted the ball past Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. However, as he took the shot, he was caught by a sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven. Isak's left ankle or knee appeared to be caught in the collision, and he immediately signaled for medical assistance.
The 26-year-old was visibly in distress and did not celebrate his goal. After receiving treatment on the field, he was helped off the pitch by Liverpool's medical staff, with Jeremie Frimpong replacing him in the 60th minute.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after the game that it was too early to determine the severity of the injury. "Difficult so short after the game to know what he exactly has but it's never a nice thing," Slot said. "Hopefully he's fine but we have to wait and see".
There are concerns that Isak may have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, an injury that could potentially sideline him for the rest of the season. Football injury expert Physio Scout suggested on social media that the injury could be an ACL tear, potentially sidelining him for 9+ months. Gary Neville, commentating on the game for Sky Sports, described Isak's injury as a "sad sight". Former Tottenham midfielder Andy Reid, covering the game for BBC Radio 5 Live, said it looked like Isak's ankle was injured.
Liverpool's victory over Tottenham was further complicated by other events in the match. Spurs' Xavi Simons was shown a straight red card in the 33rd minute for a studs-up tackle on Virgil van Dijk. Cristian Romero was also sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card, reducing Tottenham to nine men. Hugo Ekitike scored Liverpool's second goal in the 66th minute, outjumping Romero to head home. Richarlison pulled a goal back for Tottenham with seven minutes remaining, but Liverpool held on for the win.
The win moves Liverpool up to fifth place in the Premier League table, level on points with Chelsea. However, the extent of Isak's injury remains a major concern for the club, as he has quickly become an important part of their attack since his arrival.
