Liverpool forward Alexander Isak is facing a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a fractured leg in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The injury occurred following a challenge by Spurs defender Micky van de Ven.

The Swedish international underwent an operation for what Liverpool described as an ankle injury, which included a fibula fracture. Manager Arne Slot has confirmed Isak could be out for a couple of months.

“It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” Slot said after the match. “It’s a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us.”

The incident has sparked debate over the nature of Van de Ven’s tackle, which went unpunished by the referee. Slot believes the challenge was “reckless.”

“I’ve said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons, which for me was completely unintentional. I don’t think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that,” Slot explained. “The tackle of Van de Ven – if you make that tackle 10 times – I think 10 times there is a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank defended his player, stating, “We are talking about a defender that will do everything to avoid conceding the goal. Unfortunately, Isak has planted his foot straight there, which makes it look worse than it is. That would be a natural reaction for any defender. If my defender doesn’t do that, I don’t think they are true defenders.” He added that the two players “have sorted it out, so that’s a good sign.”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher acknowledged the severity of the injury for the Reds but suggested Van de Ven’s tackle was one he might have attempted himself. “There’s a lot been made about a lot of the challenges in the game from Tottenham players and a lot of them weren’t clever,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “I put myself in Van de Ven’s position, and that’s a challenge I’d probably make. He’s trying to block it – it’s just the follow-through.”

Liverpool’s attacking options are further depleted with Mohamed Salah currently away on international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, Cody Gakpo is nearing a return from a muscle injury and could feature against Wolves on Saturday. Jeremie Frimpong is also available after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Slot has ruled out a recall for Harvey Elliott from his loan spell at Aston Villa. “No, Harvey is an Aston Villa player, and he is supposed to be going there for a season,” Slot stated. “Any questions about him, the best thing to ask is at Villa, who are doing quite well by the way.”

Despite the setback, Slot remains optimistic about Isak’s long-term contribution. “You join a new club, and you are very excited. You want to show immediately all the qualities you have, but that was simply impossible with him,” he said. “We always knew it would take him time, and that’s why it’s so unlucky that he’s now injured. We all saw with his goal against West Ham and this goal that he got closer and closer to the player that he was last season at Newcastle.”

Analysis: A Matter of Perspective

The incident has divided opinion, with some viewing Van de Ven’s tackle as a legitimate attempt to block a shot, while others consider it a dangerous and reckless challenge. As football issues correspondent Dale Johnson notes, the outcome is often a matter of unfortunate collision rather than deliberate foul play.

“It is important to look at how Van de Ven makes the challenge, and also how Isak comes to sustain the injury,” Johnson writes. “Crucially, it is Isak’s shooting foot that gets injured after he plants it. Had Van de Ven gone through Isak’s standing foot or tackled his opponent directly this would have been a different discussion. Van de Ven goes to make a block into the space in front of Isak. It was a genuine challenge and should not be seen as a red card.”

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