The Swedish international, who joined Anfield for a British record £125 million in the summer, suffered what the club describes as "an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture." The injury occurred in the 56th minute of the match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, moments after Isak scored the opening goal.
The Incident: Goal Followed by Agony
The injury was the result of a heavy, sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van de Ven. As Isak struck the ball to beat Guglielmo Vicario, Van de Ven’s momentum saw him collide forcefully with the striker's lower left leg.
While the goal stood, there were immediate concerns as Isak was unable to celebrate, instead clutching his ankle in visible distress. He was assisted off the pitch by medical staff and replaced by Jeremie Frimpong.
Medical Update and Recovery Timeline
In a formal statement released on Tuesday morning, Liverpool confirmed the successful completion of the surgical procedure but declined to put an exact date on his return:
"After diagnosis, an operation was completed on Monday on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture. Isak's rehabilitation will now continue at the AXA Training Centre, with no timeframe yet placed on his return."
Medical experts suggest that a fractured fibula combined with ankle damage typically requires a recovery period of three to six months. This timeline would likely rule Isak out for the remainder of the 2025/26 Premier League season, or at the very least, until the final weeks in May.
A Massive Blow for Arne Slot
The timing of the injury is catastrophic for manager Arne Slot. Liverpool are already navigating a congested festive schedule with a thinned-out attacking department:
• Mohamed Salah: Currently away on international duty with Egypt at AFCON 2025.
• Cody Gakpo: Sidelined with a muscular injury and not expected back until mid-January.
• Alexander Isak: Now out indefinitely.
This leaves Hugo Ekitiké and Federico Chiesa as the only senior fit strikers available. Reports are already circulating that Liverpool may be forced into the January transfer market to find a short-term replacement, with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo among the names being linked.
For Isak, the injury marks a frustrating end to a debut season that was just beginning to catch fire, following a difficult start plagued by minor fitness issues and a lack of a full pre-season.