Liverpool will head into their upcoming fixtures with added fitness concerns after Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong were both forced off during Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Alexander Isak was forced off with a groin injury during his side’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
The £125 million summer signing from Newcastle United was withdrawn at half-time as a precaution, with Federico Chiesa introduced in his place. Isak’s early exit slightly tempered what was otherwise a hugely encouraging night for Slot’s side, who responded to a four-game losing streak with a dominant display in Germany.
Liverpool had trailed early on but roared back impressively before the break, with goals from Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Hugo Ekitike turning the tie around before Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai added further strikes after the interval.
It was a much-needed confidence boost for a team under pressure but the sight of Isak leaving the pitch gingerly at the break will have given Slot and his medical team another concern heading into a demanding run of fixtures.
Speaking after the match, Slot confirmed that the Sweden international was withdrawn after complaining of tightness in his groin.
“Alex was well prepared to play but the margins are small,” the Liverpool head coach told reporters. “I’m hoping this isn’t too bad. If he’s out for a few weeks that would throw him back again. It’s a groin issue, and we didn’t want to take any risks.”
Isak’s latest setback is particularly frustrating for both player and manager given the stop-start nature of his first few months on Merseyside. The 25-year-old arrived late in the summer window after protracted negotiations with Newcastle, missing a large portion of pre-season while he pushed for a move to Anfield. Since joining, he has been eased into action as he builds match sharpness.
The forward has shown glimpses of his undoubted quality notably providing an assist in the defeat at Chelsea but he has struggled for rhythm in a Liverpool side that has lacked cohesion in recent weeks. His groin issue could now interrupt that process once again.
Wednesday night marked the first time Slot had started both Isak and fellow new arrival Hugo Ekitike together in attack. The Dutchman’s decision to use a 4-2-2-2 system with Ekitike operating slightly deeper and drifting wide was a tactical gamble, but it appeared to pay off during the first half.
Ekitike’s goal, a superbly taken strike after a precise through ball from Andy Robertson, highlighted what Slot has been hoping to see from his forward line: sharp movement, intelligent interplay and clinical finishing.
Isak, by contrast, endured a quieter first period. He managed two shots and completed six passes in his 14 touches, winning one duel, but lacked the explosiveness that has defined his best form in the Premier League. Slot admitted afterwards that Isak’s discomfort might explain his relatively subdued performance.
Isak was not the only injury worry for Liverpool on the night. Jeremie Frimpong was forced off in the 18th minute after appearing to pull up clutching his hamstring. The Netherlands international, who has already missed time this season with a similar problem, was visibly frustrated as he limped off to be replaced by Joe Gomez.
“Jeremie’s is a hamstring issue,” Slot confirmed. “He had to go off and we’ll assess him in the next few days. It looks similar to what he had earlier in the season.”
The 5-1 win not only halted a damaging losing run but also showcased flashes of the attacking fluidity and pressing intensity that Slot has been striving to instil since arriving from Feyenoord in the summer.
For Isak, whose Liverpool career has yet to truly ignite, the hope will be that early intervention allows him to avoid another prolonged spell on the sidelines. For Slot, the challenge now is to turn one convincing win into a consistent run of results and to do so with a squad that’s already being tested by fitness concerns just two months into the campaign.
