Liverpool injury crisis deepens as Alexander Isak one of EIGHT absentees for Manchester United clash | OneFootball

Reds without eight first-team players for crunch fixture

Liverpool’s injury crisis has worse still as Alexander Isak was ruled out of Sunday’s trip to face Manchester United with a groin issue.

The Swede has endured a dismal debut campaign with the Reds. He lacked fitness on signing from Newcastle late in the summer transfer window and has suffered a variety of injuries since, including a broken leg.

He bagged just his third Premier League goal of the season last time out, but now finds himself back on the sidelines with a new problem.

The Sun reported on Sunday night that he had suffered a minor groin injury, and those claims were confirmed on Sunday as he was left out of Arne Slot’s squad to face Manchester United with a spot in next season’s Champions League on the line.

Goalkeeping duo Alisson and Giorgi Mamardashvili had both been considered doubts for the match but neither was passed fit, leaving Freddie Woodman to start again.

Completing the injured ranks are Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, Wataru Endo, and long-term absentees Conor Bradley and Giovani Leoni.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Slot explained that he hoped to have both Isak and Alisson back for next week’s match against Chelsea.

He said: “I don’t think, in general, it is a surprise that after a win we pick up injuries. It has happened so many times this season that no one can be surprised that it happened again.

“With Alex, it wasn’t much but unfortunately, it was too much for him to be able to play.

“Alisson hasn’t trained with us yet, so that makes it quite simple. We are hoping for him to be ready next week but we have to wait and see how the week will go.

“The same can be said about Alex. We are hoping to have him back next week but that is small margins.”