Arne Slot saw his big summer signing limp off after just 11 minutes of action against Tottenham Hotspur.
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Arsenal and Chelsea have been handed a potential boost in their hopes of keeping Liverpool at bay in a Premier League title race with Arne Slot seeing talisman Alexander Isak pick up a worrying injury in the clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
The £125 million summer signing once again started the clash on the bench, only coming on at half-time to try and make the difference against Spurs. The London outfit had been reduced to 10 men in the first half with Xavi Simons given his marching orders for a challenge on Virgil van Dijk.
The Sweden international completed his mission of putting Liverpool ahead after just 11 minutes on the pitch. Isak latched onto a Florian Wirtz ball and produced a clinical finish past Guglielmo Vicario to put the visitors ahead.
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak suffers injury blow
While Liverpool celebrations followed, Isak was not part of them as he lay crumpled on the ground holding his knee. Treatment from medical staff soon followed with a stretcher primed for the injured striker.
Isak eventually managed to stand but needed the support of two medical staff as he limped off and down the tunnel, being replaced by Jeremie Frimpong. Speaking on Sky Sports, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said: “Van de Ven has flown into him. He’s slid in there, he has to try and stop the shot, and he lands on Isak. He’s not in a good way. It’s a sad sight for Alexander Isak and for Liverpool. It could have been a rocket moment for him, lift off, and he’s picked up an injury.”
There is certainly real cause for concern for Liverpool given the quick emergence of a stretcher and how Isak struggled to walk when on his feet. A period on the sidelines at this stage of the season for Liverpool’s marquee summer signing would certainly boost hopes at Arsenal and Chelsea of staying above their rivals in the division.
Arsenal and Chelsea handed potential boost in Premier League title race
The Gunners are eight points above Arne Slot’s men prior to facing Everton on Saturday but a turn in Reds form of late will have Mikel Arteta aware of the threat the Merseyside outfit continues to pose. Meanwhile, should Liverpool pick up all three points at Spurs, they will be level on points with Chelsea.
Liverpool meet Arsenal on January 8 and it remains to be known whether Isak will be fit enough to feature at the Emirates Stadium. The Reds don’t take on Chelsea until May but, being without the striker over the busy festive and New Year period will certainly hamper performances.
Isak had scored just one Premier League goal for Liverpool prior to this weekend but Neville admitted that the feeling is that the striker would have a deciding factor in the league over the second half of the campaign.
Neville said: “I’m just hoping that’s not a bad one for Isak. It has been a struggle at the start of his Liverpool career but I don’t think anyone is any doubt about how good he is and what he will become when he starts to fly.”
In other news, Arsenal 'offer' player with 6 goals this season to other clubs amid reduced game time.