Alexander Isak injury: Liverpool confirm Sweden striker suffered leg fracture after Micky van de Ven challenge
Alexander Isak scored the opener in the 2-1 win against Tottenham on Saturday but was unable to continue after being caught late by Micky van de Ven; striker has struggled for form and fitness since Deadline Day move from Newcastle
Tuesday 23 December 2025 09:24, UK
Liverpool have confirmed Alexander Isak suffered a leg fracture during Liverpool's 2-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday.
The Sweden striker underwent surgery on Monday and while there is no timescale offered on the injury, the 26-year-old is expected to be out for a few months.
"It's going to be a long injury for a couple of months," confirmed Liverpool boss Arne Slot on Tuesday.
Spurs defender Micky van de Ven slid into Isak as he attempted to prevent the striker from scoring, leaving Isak unable to celebrate as he immediately signalled for medical attention.
"For me it was a reckless challenge [on Isak]," said Slot. "I spoke a lot about the challenge from Xavi Simons which was completely unintentional. I don't think you'll ever get an injury from that tackle.
"The tackle of Van de Ven if you make it ten times, I think ten times there is a serious chance a player gets a serious injury."
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In a statement on Monday night, Liverpool said: "After diagnosis, an operation was completed today [Monday] on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.
"Isak's rehabilitation will now continue at the AXA Training Centre, with no timeframe yet placed on his return."
Isak was sidelined for five games from October to November with a groin injury and the latest setback will only compound his disjointed start to life in Liverpool since completing his record-breaking £125m move from Newcastle this summer.
Isak has scored just three goals across 16 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool.
Carragher: Semenyo could be good way around Isak injury
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"One thing is for certain now, Mo Salah will be staying at the club. There's a good chance Harvey Elliott would come back from Aston Villa as well.
"Whether Liverpool go for a striker or another attacking player like Semenyo, who Liverpool have been heavily linked with as well, we all know he's got a buyout clause in January.
"Then you've got wide players, as in Salah and Gakpo, who've played a lot of games through the middle as well. You've got young Jayden Danns.
"That's the way they could go around it because I don't think Liverpool, when you go back a few years, when they had a real problem at centre-back, they didn't go and spend big money on someone they didn't want.
"They won't go out and buy a striker who they don't really want. If they do want Semenyo, that's probably a good way around it."
Analysis: Slot's attacking options dwindling
Sky Sports' Rich Morgan:
Isak missed four matches at the end of October and start of November with a groin injury which forced him off at half-time of the Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
He has started five out of nine since returning but any absence now, however lengthy, will be a blow with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the new year.
It leaves Slot with just Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his last four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.
Unlike Isak, Ekitike has hit the ground running since moving to Anfield from Frankfurt for £79m last summer, scoring 11 times in 24 games in all competitions so far this season, including eight in the Premier League.
And now in Isak's injury-enforced absence, the 23-year-old has the opportunity to stake his claim as the champions' first-choice No 9 during a crucial run of fixtures.
