Liverpool manager Arne Slot has publicly criticized Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven for what he deemed a "reckless challenge" that resulted in a significant injury to Liverpool's star striker, Alexander Isak. The incident occurred during Liverpool's recent 2-1 victory over Tottenham.

Isak, who joined Liverpool for £125 million, suffered a fractured leg as a result of the challenge and has already undergone surgery. The club has confirmed that the 26-year-old will be sidelined for a "couple of months," a major blow to Liverpool's attacking options. Slot expressed his disappointment, stating it was a "big, big, big disappointment for him and also for us".

Slot didn't mince words when describing the tackle, asserting, "It was a reckless challenge from Van de Ven". He further elaborated that such a challenge would "10 times out of 10" put a player at risk of serious injury. While Slot acknowledged the victory over Tottenham, he remained visibly frustrated by the incident and its consequences for his team. Some reports indicate Slot believed the challenge warranted a red card.

The injury is particularly unfortunate for Isak, who had only recently begun to find his form after a challenging start to his Liverpool career. Slot noted that Isak had been working hard to regain his peak condition after joining the club and that the injury disrupts his progress. "It's been a really challenging and difficult period for him," Slot said. "You join a new club, he was very excited, and you want to show immediately your qualities, but that was simply impossible". He added that Isak's recent goals against West Ham and Tottenham showed he was getting closer to the player he was at Newcastle.

Despite the setback, Slot remains optimistic about Isak's eventual return and contribution to the team. He anticipates Isak will be back in the spring and believes he can still play a key role in the season's latter stages.

When questioned about whether Isak's injury would prompt Liverpool to make signings during the January transfer window, Slot remained coy. He emphasized that his immediate focus is on the upcoming games. Liverpool had been linked with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who has a reported £65 million price tag.