Liverpool striker Alexander Isak sustained an injury after scoring Liverpool's opening goal in the 2-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday evening, before Hugo Ekitike found the net again
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has been told he will need to step up in the coming weeks following the injury sustained by Alexander Isak in the Premier League win over Tottenham on Saturday evening.
Arne Slot's side edged a narrow 2-1 victory over the north London club, with Isak initially opening the scoring at the start of the second half after the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the first. Attacking midfielder Xavi Simons was shown a straight red card after VAR intervention for a dangerous tackle on Virgil van Dijk.
Despite opening the scoring for Liverpool, Isak wasn't able to celebrate his second Premier League goal for the Reds. In the process of finding the net, Spurs defender Micky van de Ven brought him down and his ankle appeared to get trapped between the Dutchman's legs.
OPINION
The stretcher was initially called for, but Isak was able to limp off the pitch with the help of Liverpool medical staff. The club now face an anxious wait to determine the extent of the injury, although fears of a potential ACL tear were put at ease on Saturday night, with The Athletic reporting the initial prognosis is a lower-leg injury, as opposed to the knee.
Ekitike went on to score Liverpool's second goal of the night to make it 2-0, before Spurs substitute Richarlison pulled a goal back late on. The hosts were reduced to nine men in stoppage time as Cristian Romero was sent off for kicking out at Ibrahima Konate, and Slot's men were just about able to cling on to their slender lead and secure all three points.
Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day after the game, pundit Shay Given admitted losing Isak for any amount of time would be a cruel blow for Liverpool.
That said, he noted that it is time for Ekitike to step up in Isak's absence, especially with Mohamed Salah also set to be absent for the next few games due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations.
"It’s a big loss if Isak has gone off injured again," Given explained. "He’s had a stop-start campaign so far. But, Ekitike looks the real deal, doesn’t he?
"A brilliant striker and he’ll have to step up. Obviously, Mo Salah has left as well go to the Africa Cup of Nations. Ekitike will have to stay fit as well because it’s a big loss if Isak is out for a number of weeks now as well."
Slot did issue a brief update on Isak post-match, admitting it never looks good when a player is unable to continue, especially after scoring a goal. "We'll have to wait and see," the head coach admitted.
"But if a player scores and then gets injured and doesn't try to come back on the pitch, that's usually not a good thing."
Liverpool return to action on December 27, just a couple of days after Christmas. They will host Wolves at Anfield in a Premier League clash.
Slot will have some tough selection decisions, however, in light of recent injuries. All of Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz were forced off with issues at various points during the game.