Alexander Isak is set to be sidelined for a number of months after it was discovered he suffered a leg fracture in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. And the Liverpool striker has already undergone surgery in an effort to correct the issue after an MRI scan on Sunday.
The Sweden international picked up the problem when he was caught by Micky van den Ven when opening the scoring in Saturday's win in North London. Isak, who had only been on the pitch for 11 minutes as a second-half substitute, was immediately withdrawn for Jeremie Frimpong and was helped off the pitch by Dr Jonathan Power and Chris Morgan, two members of the club's medical team.
A scan took place on Sunday; then, after diagnosis, an operation was completed on Monday on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.
Liverpool are placing no timescale on the recovery process for the £125m striker, but it’s understood Isak is expected to be absent for at least a number of months.
The update will come as a major blow for Arne Slot and his squad as they aim to build on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions that has taken them up to fifth in the Premier League ahead of a visit from rock-bottom Wolves on December 27.
Slot is due to speak to the media on Tuesday morning to preview that game and will be able to offer a more fulsome update on Isak.
Isak arrived at Anfield on September 1, having had no real pre-season schedule due to the protracted and acrimonious nature of his British-record switch from Newcastle United.
After an individually tailored programme was designed to get him up to speed, the 26-year-old was then absent for a month with a groin injury picked up in the 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
“It’s a huge blow because I think Liverpool were one attacker short anyway really when you look at the makeup of the squad,” Reds legend Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports on Monday
“There’s been a lot made of the challenges from Tottenham in the game and a lot of them weren’t clever. I’ve put myself in Van de Ven’s position there and that’s probably a challenge I’d make.
“You’ve got to try and block it, it’s just sort of the follow through, I don’t know where else anyone thinks his foot is going to go but he has to make that challenge. He can’t just let the striker get the shot away there in that situation. It’s just really bad luck for Isak.
“That’s one of the first real glimpses we’ve seen of his real quality in a Liverpool shirt, but yeah, it’s a real big blow.”