Liverpool fear their record signing, Alexander Isak, has fractured his left leg and will face months on the sidelines. The league champions are waiting on the results of an MRI scan after the £125m man was injured against Tottenham in Saturday’s Premier League game.
The 26-year-old sustained the problem while scoring the opener against Spurs – his second league goal of an already injury-hit debut season – in the 2-1 win. The defender Micky van de Ven slid across and caught his leg as the striker planted it on the ground. Isak, who had been on for only 11 minutes after appearing as a half-time substitute, left the pitch looking in considerable distress.
Immediately after the game, Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, referred to the injury as “not a good thing”. “If a player doesn’t even try to come back, that is usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that,” he said. “That is just gut feeling and nothing medical … let’s not be too negative yet. We don’t know yet. Let’s hope he is back with us soon.”
Isak’s extended absence will stretch Liverpool’s forward options, with Mohamed Salah now 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 Ekitiké, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.
Liverpool are hoping to bring in Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in a £65m deal, with the in-form wide man having reportedly agreed personal terms over a January move. Manchester City and Manchester United are also keen on the Ghana international but he is believed to favour a move to Anfield.
