Liverpool delivered a dramatic 2-1 victory over Tottenham in the most anticipated clash of Premier League Matchweek 17, surging to fifth place in the table. However, the club faces fresh concerns after Alexander Isak had to leave the field in severe pain.
Alexander Isak is Expected to Be Out of Action for Liverpool for a Long Time
According to David Ornstein, Liverpool fears Isak has a serious lower leg injury. He was substituted during Matchweek 17 against Spurs. The injury could sideline him for several weeks or longer.
🚨 Liverpool fear Alexander Isak suffered significant injury in challenge while scoring in Saturday’s victory at Tottenham Hotspur. #LFC concern relates to 26yo Sweden striker’s lower left leg & intend to confirm once MRI scan results arrive @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/nx5WAMqJ29
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) December 21, 2025
The Swede came off the bench and scored the opening goal for the Reds. Shortly after, he suffered a very hard foul from Micky van de Ven and was unable to continue. Now, the 26-year-old striker will undergo an MRI in the coming hours to determine the extent of the injury.
Even though the results are still unknown, pessimism has taken hold at Liverpool. They may no longer be able to count on a striker who cost £125 million in the upcoming games.
It should be noted that Isak had been struggling since arriving at Anfield. He had difficulty adapting to his new club after enjoying great success at Newcastle. The Swede scored only his second Premier League goal of the current season in 10 games played.
Isak Finds It Difficult to Adapt to the Reds
At the start of summer, he was left out of Newcastle’s preseason due to a minor thigh injury and signaled his openness to moving clubs. As a result, Isak trained alone at his former club, Real Sociedad, before joining Liverpool on the final day of the transfer window.
Without a proper preseason, he arrived with physical problems related to Liverpool’s intense pace of play. He started in only 10 games. On the other hand, striker Hugo Ekitike, who arrived in the summer from Eintracht Frankfurt, also scored against Spurs and is likely to play a more prominent role from now on.
Liverpool continues to bet on Isak’s long-term success. Physically tall, with good speed and refined technique, the striker combines finishing power, physical play, and presence in the box with the ability to participate in combinations and create opportunities for teammates. In theory, he is the center forward in Arne Slot’s system, with his main role to finish chances and create numerical superiority in dangerous areas.
In press conferences, Slot said that a player who performs better with space behind defenses and in transitions is needed. Another reason for Isak’s below-par performance is the comparison with Liverpool, as his former club played with more key passes, crosses, and deep balls to Isak than the Reds do.
