Arne Slot is optimistic Alexander Isak can return earlier than the top of the season after present process surgical procedure on a damaged leg following a sort out from Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven that the Liverpool boss described as “reckless”.
Isak, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle in a club-record £125m deal in September, sustained the damage within the act of scoring the opener on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, Van de Ven sliding in after the Swede had slotted the ball previous Guglielmo Vicario.
He was operated on yesterday and can now be lacking for a number of months, including to the Reds’ damage issues.
“It was for me a reckless problem,” mentioned Slot, talking forward of Saturday’s sport with Wolves. “Should you make a sort out like that 10 instances, 10 instances there’s a likelihood the participant will get a critical damage. It’s going to be a protracted damage. A few months. That’s a giant, massive, massive disappointment for him and in addition for us.
“I’m assured he can [play a part in the back end of the season]. It’s been a extremely difficult and tough interval for him. You be a part of a brand new membership, he was very excited and also you wish to present instantly your qualities however that was merely inconceivable. Should you haven’t educated for 2 or three months at a critical degree, on this league it’s important to be on high of your sport to impression a sport of soccer.
“We knew it could take months. We knew it may take him time, that’s why he’s so unfortunate he’s now injured as all of us noticed along with his targets versus West Ham and Tottenham he received nearer to the participant he was at Newcastle.”
Slot backs Ekitike to step up
With Isak injured and Mohamed Salah away on the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, there shall be a higher emphasis positioned on Hugo Ekitike to get the targets over the Christmas interval.
The Frenchman is the membership’s high scorer this season and Slot has been impressed by his enter following a summer season transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt.
He added: “He nonetheless must get stronger however he’s already change into stronger.
He can rating a objective, he has nice footwork, dribbling expertise, he has a lot in his locker. Adjusted to the Premier League now, the most important factor is how he can change into bodily excellent, that’s what he’s engaged on actually exhausting.
“Final two, three, 4 minutes he was very drained at Tottenham. I see this usually. However there’s hardly any relaxation for these gamers, I’ve to provide them quite a lot of compliments. Each time they struggle, struggle, struggle from first second to the final.”
Liverpool have two winnable video games over Christmas
Liverpool have had a tough few weeks as they give the impression of being to defend their Premier League crown however shall be optimistic of ending 2025 on a excessive with home games against Wolves and Leeds over the next eight days.
“My solely ideas are on the upcoming two video games, two tough ones once more, two house ones which is sweet,” mentioned Slot. “It’s time for the gamers obtainable to roll their sleeves up and our followers as properly to assist us get the absolute best outcomes.
“The gamers who can be found want to provide every part they’ve and the followers, which they often do. That’s my focus.”
