Liverpool Striker Alexander Isak Ruled Out For Two Months After Leg Fracture

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that striker Alexander Isak faces a significant spell on the sidelines after sustaining a serious ankle injury that includes a fractured fibula during Saturday's 2-1 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Isak, who scored the opening goal, was injured in the act of finishing the move when Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven made a sliding challenge that caught the Swede's standing leg. He underwent successful surgery on Monday, December 22, 2025, and is expected to be out of action for "a couple of months," according to Slot.

Slot was highly critical of the tackle, describing it as "reckless" and potentially dangerous. "The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there’s a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury," he said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool's game against Wolves. He contrasted it with an earlier red-card challenge by Tottenham's Xavi Simons, which he called unintentional and unlikely to cause serious harm. Slot expressed deep disappointment for Isak, noting the bad timing of the injury just as the 26-year-old was finding his rhythm after a disrupted start to life at Anfield.

Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record fee of £125 million ($168 million) in September 2025, but his integration has been hampered by a lack of preseason due to a transfer dispute, followed by a groin injury in October. He has scored only three goals in 16 appearances since the move. Slot acknowledged that Isak was "unlucky" with the injury but remains optimistic he will return before the end of the season, though he expects him to need time to regain full sharpness.

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The injury is a major blow for Liverpool, who are already without Mohamed Salah (currently at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt) and Cody Gakpo (out with a muscle injury until early 2026). Slot is left with limited senior attacking options in Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa, raising the possibility of January transfer activity to strengthen the forward line, with Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo among those linked. Despite the setback, Liverpool have climbed to fifth in the Premier League after an unbeaten run of five games, following a difficult start to their title defense. Slot urged his squad to "roll their sleeves up" in Isak's absence as they prepare for the busy festive fixture schedule.

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