Isak injures after scoring as Liverpool beat Tottenham; Frimpong also hurt on comeback

Alexander Isak was introduced as a half-time substitute for Conor Bradley and soon after delivered Liverpool’s opener in the 56th minute against Tottenham in London, his second Premier League goal for the Reds. The moment looked like a timely vindication of the club’s decision to bring on the £125million signing, who had arrived amid questions about his fitness and adaptation to Merseyside.

Moments after scoring, Isak was forced to withdraw after a heavy challenge from Micky van de Ven left him landing awkwardly on his shooting leg. He required treatment on the field and, after a period of attention from Liverpool’s medical staff, was unable to continue. The injury cast a shadow over what had been a productive half for the visitors, who had briefly steadied themselves after Isak’s introduction.

Isak’s replacement was Jeremie Frimpong, returning from a hamstring issue to take Isak’s place at half-time. But the substitute’s evening was cut short as he appeared to suffer a lip injury and was seen bleeding from the mouth, loudly arguing with referee John Brooks as he left the field. The episode added to a sense of disrupted momentum for a Liverpool side already trying to balance fresh optimism over Isak with the ongoing task of integrating him into a demanding schedule.

There had already been confusion over a stretcher that was brought onto the sideline but ultimately not used as Isak departed. Liverpool pressed on and extended their lead through Hugo Ekitike, who doubled the advantage in the 66th minute, just ten minutes after Isak’s opener, reinforcing the impression that the Reds were building a foothold in a high-stakes London derby.

Isak’s arrival at Anfield was one of the defining moves of a summer window shaped by the club’s willingness to gamble on a high-price, high-profile addition. His start at Liverpool has been carefully managed, with pre-season activity limited by lingering fitness concerns and a period of training away from the first-team group. He debuted for Liverpool on September 17 in the Champions League against Atlético Madrid, marking his first competitive appearance since May and signaling that the club intended to build his fitness from a high level rather than rush him back.

Those plans have been tempered by a run of injuries, including adductor pain that kept him out for three games in October and November. In September, Slot acknowledged the challenge of easing Isak into full fitness after a protracted exit from Newcastle, saying the transfer would effectively reset his pre-season schedule at Liverpool. The manager’s assessment was that Isak would need time to adapt to the intensities of the Premier League and the physical demands of his new environment, even as fans watched for signs of the star turn that justified the club’s record investment.

The late substitutions and injuries tested Liverpool’s depth. Frimpong’s lip injury followed his return from solvent injury, adding another layer of disruption to a squad still rebuilding cohesion. As the match progressed, Liverpool held onto their lead and saw out the closing minutes, with Tottenham’s opportunities stifled by a combination of defensive discipline and coordinated pressing.

The day’s events leave Isak facing a further setback in what has already been a testing season. There is no public update yet on the extent of his injury, and Liverpool will monitor him closely in the coming days. Regardless of the outcome, the result and the goal-scoring contributions from Isak and Ekitike provide a basis for cautious optimism about Liverpool’s attacking options in the short term, even as the team continues to refine its balance around a high-cost centerpiece still seeking consistent production.