What was supposed to be a turning point for Alexander Isak and Liverpool’s season quickly turned into another headache for head coach Arne Slot during a dramatic Premier League win over nine-man Tottenham Hotspur.
Dream impact turns sour
Introduced from the bench, Isak made an immediate impact by finishing calmly past Guglielmo Vicario, giving Liverpool the lead and underlining why the club invested £125 million in him. The goal also marked a promising moment as Isak combined with Florian Wirtz, who registered his first Premier League assist following his £116 million summer move. With Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo sidelined, it felt like a glimpse into Liverpool’s future attacking setup.
Immediate injury blow
Celebrations were short-lived. Moments after scoring, Isak went down in visible pain following a challenge from Micky van de Ven. Surrounded by teammates, it became evident the striker could not continue. Slot later admitted concern, saying a player who scores and cannot attempt to carry on is rarely a positive sign. The injury now appears serious.
Mounting fitness problems
Liverpool’s injury troubles did not end there. Conor Bradley was withdrawn at half-time after picking up a knock, while Isak was replaced on the hour by Jeremie Frimpong, who was making his first appearance since October. Frimpong himself failed to finish the match, coming off late for Federico Chiesa, although Slot insisted it was a precaution to avoid risking playing briefly with 10 men. Notably, both substitutes used to replace injured players were unable to see out the game.
Hanging on against nine men
Despite Tottenham being reduced to nine following the dismissals of Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero, Liverpool struggled to maintain control late on. Hugo Ekitike’s goal ultimately proved decisive, but Spurs dominated possession in the closing stages. Former midfielder Jamie Redknapp described Liverpool’s game management as a “masterclass on how not to manage the final 10 minutes.”
Slot admits lack of control
Slot conceded his side allowed the match to descend into chaos, pointing out that Tottenham dominated possession even during nine minutes of stoppage time. He stressed that Liverpool still need more wins to grow comfortable dealing with setbacks, though he acknowledged there were positives across the first 80 to 90 minutes.
Unsettled progress despite results
Liverpool are now six games unbeaten, recording four wins and two draws, after a difficult spell that saw them lose nine of 12 matches earlier in the season. They head into Christmas level on points with Chelsea in fourth place, a sign of recovery, even if performances remain uneven.
Key question remains
While Slot can take encouragement from both of his recognised number nines finding the net, the biggest concern now surrounds Isak’s fitness. As Liverpool continue their push for stability, the length of the striker’s absence could prove crucial to their season.
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