Alexander Isak barely had time to celebrate Liverpool’s opening goal this evening before his night was cut short by injury. The striker had been on the pitch for just over 10 minutes, having come on for Conor Bradley at half-time, when he was forced to withdraw.
Isak found the net after racing onto a through ball from Florian Wirtz, but a poorly timed challenge from Micky van de Ven left him unable to continue. The Swede limped off and was replaced by Jeremie Frimpong, who was later substituted himself for Federico Chiesa.
It was a heartbreaking moment for the 26-year-old, who was scoring only his third goal for Liverpool since his £125 million move. Gary Neville described the scene as “sad to see,” noting the obvious distress as Liverpool’s number nine left the field.
Injury expert gives early Isak assessment
Shortly after full-time, injury analyst Physio Scout shared an initial view on Isak’s condition on X, stressing that it remains an early and unconfirmed opinion.
They wrote: “From the first look, this appears to be a possible ACL injury, with or without meniscus involvement. While the initial contact was at the ankle, the knee was forced into a valgus position, raising concerns about the ACL or MCL. The fact he walked off likely rules out a lower-leg fracture, and he was clearly holding his knee.
“If it is an ACL injury, recovery could be nine months or more. Disclaimer: this is an educated guess for now, as I’m currently away. A full analysis will follow later.”
Liverpool await clarity on Isak injury
It’s important to stress that this is only a preliminary assessment from a respected source, and clearer information may not arrive until Liverpool’s medical team provide an official update in the coming days.
Still, the suggestion of a possible ACL issue will alarm both Isak and Liverpool, especially with several players already unavailable for next week’s match against Wolves due to injury, suspension, and international duty.
The fact that Isak managed to walk off the pitch offers some hope that it isn’t a severe fracture, but definitive answers are expected within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Speaking after the match via Liverpoolfc.com, head coach Arne Slot admitted that Isak’s inability to continue was “usually not a good sign,” though he emphasised it was only his instinct rather than a medical verdict.
For now, Liverpool supporters can only hope the worst-case scenario is avoided, but an anxious wait lies ahead as further details on the Swedish striker’s injury emerge.
