Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is set for a lengthy spell of the sidelines, with the Premier League club confirming he has undergone surgery on a leg fracture.
The Sweden striker was injured during the Reds' win at Tottenham on Saturday, and it quickly emerged that there were concerns the issue was serious. Isak, who was injured scoring Liverpool's opener in their 2-1 win, was injured in the process. He looked in immediate pain after a challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven, who was trying in vain to stop his opponent from scoring.
While an ACL injury was quickly ruled out, indications on Sunday suggested Isak's club still feared a 'significant' issue. And after an MRI scan confirmed the former Newcastle man had broken his leg, Isak underwent surgery on Monday.
Liverpool have not set a timeline on his return to action but Isak - the Reds' record signing- is now set to miss months of action.
“I don’t have any news on him. But if a player scores and then gets injured, and doesn’t come back on the pitch, doesn’t try to come back - which is what Conor Bradley tried to do for example but I had to take him off as well because he couldn’t go on," Liverpool manager Arne Slot told reporters on Saturday.
“But 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, it is just a gut feeling. Nothing medical to say about it. I haven’t spoken to him about it yet."
Liverpool's opponents finished Saturday's game with nine men, with Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero both sent off. Van de Ven wasn't carded for his challenge which led to Isak's injury, but former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd saw things differently to the referee.
"Van de Ven has not intentionally tried to hurt Isak. Obviously, he is desperate to stop a goal and he's coming across to stop the shot," Bothroyd said on Sky Sports' Ref Watch.
"This is an example where, yes, Isak has scored, but it should still be a red card. He's lunging, he's going into him. Every explanation you want to give for a red-card challenge is there. Because he's scored, they've let it go.
"He's lunged, he's out of control. He's trying to make a block but he's never going to get there. If that's in the middle of the park, that's a red card."