Isak out 2 months after ankle operation

Striker Alexander Isak faces two months on the sidelines following surgery, after fracturing his leg in a “reckless challenge” from Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said on Dec 23.

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The 26-year-old Swede, signed from Newcastle United for a British-record £125 million (S$217 million) in September, was injured while scoring in the Reds’ 2-1 away win on Dec 20.

“It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” Slot told reporters. “So, yeah, that’s a big, big, big disappointment for him. And as a result also of course for us.

“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.

Isak’s injury is the latest setback in his disappointing start to his career with Liverpool. He has scored just three goals in 16 appearances since completing his protracted move to Anfield.

Slot admitted it had been a “challenging and difficult period” for his new striker but believes Isak could still play a valuable role later in the season.