An image speaks one thousand phrases, goes the saying. On this case, one snapshot talked 125million causes to be apprehensive.
Alexander Isak had simply scored simply his second Premier League aim since a £125m transfer from Newcastle and inside seconds collapsed to the canvas, grimacing and holding his leg. The cash shot was when he put his shirt over his face.
As he hobbled off the pitch, he was most certainly cursing underneath his breath. The poor lad can not purchase a break. And now, if this harm is as dangerous as his facial features made it look, he might be dealt one other almighty setback on his highway to full health.
The phrase on Saturday night was that he shall be despatched for scans to find out the extent of the lower-leg harm and goalkeeper Alisson insists he ‘thinks he shall be OK’, which is a big optimistic signal.
Some followers had feared this was the type of blow that might rule out Isak for a number of weeks if not months.
However let’s park any anxieties for one more day. There’s a scenario that might see him brush it off and be again for the house assembly with Wolves in per week and one other that isn’t price Liverpool supporters worrying about over their Christmas dinners.
Alexander Isak cannot catch a break at Anfield, struggling harm after simply his second league aim
The British file signing fell in anguish after scoring, caught by Spurs star Micky van de Ven
Regardless of the harm, Isak’s Fifty fifth-minute strike gave a glimpse or reminder of what he can do
What will be the discuss of the dinner tables within the subsequent week, although, is that in a 14-minute cameo Isak lastly confirmed he will be the person Liverpool purchased for all that cash.
In his first almost 4 months as a Reds participant, he has flopped. ‘Now we have signed him for six years, not six months’ is Arne Slot’s approach of taking a look at it and that, after all, is totally right. He’ll quickly present the world what he’s about.
His Fifty fifth-minute strike, although, gave a glimpse or reminder of what he can do.
Wirtz class arrives in time for Christmas
Isak obtained the ball halfway within the Tottenham half, performed a intelligent move and made a dart into the penalty space earlier than wriggling right into a capturing place.
Florian Wirtz picked him out with a intelligent disguised move and that was that. Wirtz and Isak, all £241m of that duo, mixed to deadly impact. When the pair signed in the summertime, followers would have anticipated to see that week in, week out.
The actual fact they needed to wait till 5 days earlier than Christmas for Wirtz to help Isak within the Premier League would have shocked many however it’s higher late than by no means, as they are saying. The one factor to thwart that will be if Isak’s harm is as sinister as it might have seemed.
However no matter that, Wirtz is lastly exhibiting why he was signed to a lot fanfare. OK, let’s not go excessive, there are nonetheless a number of ranges for the German to climb earlier than he reaches the heights he hit at Bayer Leverkusen.
Florian Wirtz’s class shone via within the 2-1 win, marking one in every of his finest shows at Liverpool
He’s, although, on the fitting trajectory. He’s selecting up the ball in little pockets of area, pulling defenders into all kinds of locations they might slightly not be with intelligent runs and discovering his team-mates with punchy passes.
Now all he wants is that first aim for the membership…
Forgotten Frimpong affords one thing new
Jeremie Frimpong, like Isak, was substituted on after which later taken off with an harm however his drawback is a busted lip – why did the referee not cease the sport? – slightly than something that can trigger any lasting injury.
The Dutch full again signed to a lot acclaim in late Might, trailing the trail from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool earlier than his good mate Wirtz adopted a month or so later.
Chatting with anybody who knew Frimpong nicely on the time spoke of a participant who would change the entire dynamic of Arne Slot’s workforce together with his energetic and artistic type up and down that proper flank.
However now we have barely seen him. He has suffered two hamstring accidents and the latest one noticed him dominated out for the perfect a part of two months with the Dutchman lastly again as we speak, as Day by day Mail Sport revealed would occur per week in the past.
Frimpong, 25, is a singular full again. Throughout his final two seasons in Germany, he scored 19 targets and assisted 24. These are astonishing numbers that we should always not underestimate. He registered one for Liverpool right here with a intelligent ball into Hugo Ekitike.
It was not an ideal efficiency and a few moments will be filed underneath ‘rustiness’ after a few months on the sidelines however Frimpong confirmed Slot that he can supply one thing that others don’t.
Jeremie Frimpong affords one thing new on the fitting flank after getting back from harm
Objective-scoring is essentially the most priceless foreign money for strikers, and Hugo Ekitike has proven why
At this juncture, it’s price stating fellow proper again Conor Bradley put in a stable defensive efficiency within the first half earlier than going off injured. Each Frimpong and his Northern Irish colleague are good proper backs with totally different talent units.
The principle factor now’s getting them each match.
Ekitike reveals why targets are extra priceless than touches
Ekitike barely had a sniff for the entire first half and was not half as influential as he has been in latest weeks. However he scored and his tally now stands at 5 targets throughout the final three league video games.
It reveals that though he’s a No 9 who does all the things – link-up play, off-the-ball operating, intelligent passes, drifting out broad – he can put in a efficiency just like one in every of his inspirations Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian is oft-criticised for ghosting via video games and probably not influencing proceedings. It’s all forgotten about when the Manchester Metropolis machine finds the again of the web to win his facet the sport, although.
Comparable will be true of Ekitike, who mentioned earlier this season: ‘If I can add a bit of bit in my recreation it will be from (Haaland’s) recreation. He is capable of do issues with out touching the ball a lot throughout the recreation, and it is actually spectacular. So sure, he is undoubtedly somebody I am taking a look at.’
Ekitike is an all-round ahead however it at all times helps when you already know the place the aim is, too. His headed end right here was a right-place-at-the-right-time, typical poachers’ aim.
