Liverpool, October 23 (AP) – The challenging beginning of Alexander Isak's Liverpool stint encountered an additional hurdle as he suffered a groin injury during the Champions League triumph against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Swedish forward, who joined from Newcastle for a British-record fee of £125 million ($170 million) at the conclusion of the summer transfer window, was forced to leave the field at halftime as Liverpool secured a 5-1 victory on Wednesday.
This marked Liverpool’s second injury setback of the evening, as right back Jeremie Frimpong had already exited the game midway through the first half due to a hamstring issue.
Isak has been working to regain his match sharpness in recent weeks, having trained separately from the main Newcastle squad during preseason while negotiating his move to Liverpool. He has found the net just once in eight appearances across all competitions for his new club.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot mentioned last week that only recently can Isak be fairly evaluated, due to the player's turbulent preseason.
“Let's hope it’s not too serious, but he had to be substituted because he felt his groin,” Slot explained. “Many were eager for me to give him more playtime and we aimed to find the right balance, yet today it didn’t align perfectly. But we remain hopeful."
Slot discussed the challenges of managing Isak's playtime over the past month, noting that Isak’s participation in Sweden’s recent international fixtures supported the belief that he was ready to take on consecutive starts.
“When he arrived at the club, he had scarce training,” commented the Dutchman. “So, we gradually pushed him forward, expecting a point where he could endure playing twice weekly, similar to what he did with Sweden, albeit he had to leave the game.
“Normally, players are prepared for weekly games, but being part of Liverpool involves competing every three days, or typically three matches over eight days. However, this season we've faced the misfortune of having to play three times over seven days.
“We approached his preparation meticulously, ensuring he was fit upon his return from the national team prior to the (Manchester) United match on Sunday. We believed he was well-prepared, yet the margins at this level are minimal.”
Similarly, Frimpong has encountered a challenging first season at Liverpool following his transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.
Slot conveyed that the Netherlands international would be sidelined for a “few weeks.” (AP) UNG
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