Liverpool fans are holding their breath after a potentially devastating blow in their 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Star striker Alexander Isak, who opened the scoring in the hard-fought Premier League clash, limped off the pitch with what appeared to be a serious knee injury—sparking widespread fears of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear that could sideline him for the rest of the season.
The Swedish international, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle in a high-profile summer transfer, was the hero of the hour when he fired home the opener just before the 60-minute mark at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, the goal came at a cost. Isak twisted awkwardly after a sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven, clutching his knee in agony before being substituted. The incident overshadowed an otherwise gritty win for the Reds, who climbed to fifth in the league table thanks to Hugo Ekitike’s second goal and a late consolation from Tottenham’s Richarlison.
Post-match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot delivered a somber update that did little to ease concerns. Speaking to the BBC, Slot admitted: “We’ll have to wait and see. It is too short after the game to speak about it, but it is never good when a player has to come off.” His cautious tone has only fueled speculation among supporters that Isak’s injury could be season-ending, especially given the visible pain and the nature of the challenge. An ACL injury would not only rule Isak out for the remainder of the campaign but could also impact his preparation for the next preseason—echoing his limited involvement with Newcastle over the summer.
The match itself was a chaotic affair, with Tottenham reduced to nine men after red cards to Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero. Liverpool capitalized on their numerical advantage, but the Reds also dealt with their own injury woes. Wing-back Jeremie Frimpong and full-back Conor Bradley were also forced off, though Slot downplayed Frimpong’s issue as a precautionary measure to avoid a red card risk. “I took Frimpong off because I did not want to be with 10 men, so that injury is fine,” he explained. “The other two (Isak and Bradley), we’ll have to wait and see. The good thing is that we have a week to go, so hopefully we have enough players available to play next week again.”
Despite the win—Liverpool’s third in a row across all competitions—Slot reflected on the team’s resilience amid a turbulent season. “Three points away at Spurs is very nice,” he said. “It is a difficult stadium to go to, a good team to play against. Of course, they lost last week, so today they wanted to make it up in front of their fans. For us, the aim was to win again because we need wins to let the league table look better for us, and eventually that’s what we did.”
Slot also addressed concerns over Liverpool’s habit of conceding late goals, drawing parallels to their recent 3-3 draw with Leeds. “It was 11 vs 11 there, but we had nine minutes added again there,” he noted. “I think here that was completely fine with the injury treatments, VAR, so I can’t complain at all about the nine minutes. They were close. They came close a few times. It’s unbelievable if you play against nine men that I would not be surprised if for the nine minutes they had the ball for eight-and-a-half. That is not what you expect, and maybe that tells you where we are in this season. We need a few more wins to get a bit more comfortable with setbacks. The thing that keeps in your mind is the last 10 minutes, but there was a lot more to like in the first 80-90 minutes.”
For Liverpool, the victory provides a much-needed boost in their push for European spots, but the potential loss of Isak—a key figure in their attack—could derail their momentum. Fans took to social media to express their anxiety, with many fearing the worst based on replays of the incident. Medical scans in the coming days will determine the extent of the damage, but Slot’s grim assessment has left the Anfield faithful bracing for bad news.
As the Reds prepare for their next fixture, the focus shifts to squad depth. With a week to recover, Slot will hope for positive updates on Isak and Bradley. In the meantime, Liverpool’s bombshell injury update serves as a stark reminder of the fine line between triumph and tribulation in the Premier League.