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Liverpool’s 2-1 win away at Tottenham Hotspur should have been remembered as a statement result under Arne Slot. Instead, it has been quickly eclipsed by grim injury news surrounding Alexander Isak, whose fractured leg will sideline him for what Slot described as “a couple of months”.
The Sweden international was injured as he scored for the Reds, sliding the ball home only to be caught in a heavy challenge from Micky van de Ven. Isak was forced off and later underwent surgery after Liverpool confirmed “an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture”.
Slot did not hide his disappointment, both at the nature of the injury and its timing. “It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” he said. “It’s a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us.”
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Slot brands Van de Ven tackle ‘reckless’
The focal point of the post-match debate has been Van de Ven’s sliding challenge, which went unpunished by the officials. Slot was forthright in his assessment.
“This was for me a reckless challenge,” the Liverpool manager said. “If you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there is a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”
Slot contrasted that incident with an earlier red card for Xavi Simons, who was sent off after catching Virgil van Dijk late. In Slot’s view, the Simons tackle was accidental, while Van de Ven’s was inherently dangerous.
“The tackle of Xavi Simons, for me, was completely unintentional,” Slot added. “I don’t think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.”
It is a stance that reflects growing frustration among Liverpool supporters, who feel their side were left counting the cost of an aggressive Spurs performance.
Carragher offers contrasting perspective
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher provided a more sympathetic reading of Van de Ven’s actions, describing the injury as cruel rather than malicious.
Speaking on television, Carragher said the loss of Isak was “a huge blow” but stopped short of calling the tackle dangerous.
“I put myself in Van de Ven’s position and that’s a challenge I’d probably make,” Carragher explained. “He’s trying to block it. It’s just the follow-through.”
Carragher argued that defenders cannot hesitate in those moments, even if the consequences are severe. “You can’t let the striker just get a shot away in that situation,” he added, suggesting Isak was simply unfortunate.
Why the challenge divided opinion
The incident has reopened an ongoing debate around blocking tackles and serious injuries. The crucial detail is that Isak injured his shooting foot after planting it, rather than being directly tackled on his standing leg.
Some analysts believe this places the collision in the category of unfortunate accident rather than serious foul play. Others argue that defenders must accept responsibility when launching themselves at speed in close quarters.
For Liverpool, the theoretical arguments matter less than the practical impact. A striker signed for a British-record fee is now unavailable during a critical stretch of the season.
Isak’s Liverpool journey hit by another obstacle
Isak’s injury is the latest twist in what has already been a difficult first season at Anfield. The 26-year-old arrived in the summer from Newcastle United for £125m, carrying both huge expectations and lingering fitness concerns.
His preparation was disrupted long before his move was finalised. Isak missed Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia with what was described as a minor thigh issue, trained alone at Real Sociedad, and only completed his transfer on deadline day.
Slot acknowledged the uphill battle Isak faced from the outset. “You join a new club and you are very excited,” he said. “You want to show immediately all the qualities you have, but that was simply impossible.”
According to Slot, a lack of sustained training made it unrealistic to expect immediate impact in the Premier League. “In this league you need to be on top of your game to impact a match,” he explained.
Despite flashes of quality, Isak managed just three goals in 16 appearances. The strikes against West Ham United and Tottenham hinted that rhythm and confidence were finally returning.
“We all saw he got closer and closer to the player that he was last season,” Slot said. “That’s why it’s so unlucky that he’s now injured.”
Attacking depth stretched at a crucial time
Isak’s absence compounds an already delicate situation for Liverpool. Mohamed Salah is away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving Slot short of proven attacking options.
There is some cautious optimism around Cody Gakpo, who has been recovering from a muscle injury and could return in time to face Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jeremie Frimpong also made his comeback from a hamstring issue against Spurs, appearing off the bench on the right wing.
Slot confirmed Frimpong is now fit enough to start if required, a timely boost given the lack of forwards available.
However, one door remains firmly closed. Slot ruled out recalling Harvey Elliott from his loan spell at Aston Villa, despite the mounting pressure on his squad.
“No, Harvey is an Aston Villa player,” Slot said. “He is supposed to be going there for a season.”
Can Isak still shape Liverpool’s season?
Despite the severity of the injury, Slot remains convinced Isak can still contribute before the campaign ends.
“Yes,” he replied when asked if the striker could yet play a meaningful role. That belief reflects the long-term thinking behind Liverpool’s investment, even if the short-term picture looks bleak.
Recovery timelines for fibula fractures vary, but Slot’s estimate of “a couple of months” suggests Isak could return for the run-in. Whether he can regain sharpness quickly enough remains uncertain.
For now, Liverpool must adapt, relying on versatility, youth and tactical flexibility to navigate a testing period. Victory in north London showed resilience. The aftermath has shown how fragile momentum can be.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear. Liverpool won the match, but the cost may shape their season far more than the three points ever could.