Liverpool's top scorer, Alexander Isak, will miss several months due to a fracture in his left leg, which he suffered during Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win against Tottenham Hotspur, the club has announced.
Ian Walton/AP
Isak, who is from Sweden, had surgery on Monday to fix the injury, but Liverpool hasn't shared a timeline for his return.
The 26-year-old got injured in a tough way.
He had just come on as a substitute in the second half and scored the first goal of the game for Arne Slot’s team. He was taken off the pitch by the club’s medical team after being challenged by Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven.
Liverpool acted quickly, with MRI scans on Sunday showing the full extent of the injury.
Although the club confirmed Isak avoided a serious ACL injury, the scans revealed a broken fibula.
The surgery was successful, and the club said in a statement, "He successfully underwent surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture."
Isak's absence is a big problem for Liverpool both on and off the field.
He joined the club on transfer deadline day in September for a British record £125 million, and he had only just started to feel comfortable with his new team.
In his early weeks, he struggled with fitness and missed some games due to a groin injury against Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, he started to show his ability, and his goal against Tottenham was only his second in the Premier League for the club, but it showed why Liverpool paid so much for him.
Isak’s injury is especially tough timing.
Mohamed Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, which has stretched Liverpool’s attacking options. Right now, the only fit central striker in Slot’s squad is Hugo Ekitike, forcing the manager to think about other options as the busy festive period approaches.
Liverpool is being careful with Isak's recovery.
While the minimum time to recover from a leg fracture is usually around 12 weeks, there is no fixed return date. The club is likely preparing for him to be out for several months, possibly not back until the spring international break in March.
For Isak, this is another setback since his high-profile move from Newcastle United.
He had to deal with early fitness problems and injuries, but he had started to show he could make an impact for Liverpool. Now, his progress will have to wait as he goes through long-term rehabilitation.
Liverpool will give more updates on Isak's recovery as he begins to heal, and Arne Slot is expected to speak to the media on Tuesday ahead of the Reds' match against Wolves on December 27.