Liverpool injury latest: Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and more | OneFootball

Liverpool injury latest casts long shadow over festive momentum

Liverpool head into the post Christmas programme with renewed confidence and familiar concern. The upward curve has been restored, back to back Premier League wins for the first time since September, capped by a 2-1 victory over nine man Tottenham. Yet as ever with Liverpool’s winter campaigns, progress has come at a price. Arne Slot’s side emerged from North London with fresh injury worries that threaten to shape the weeks ahead.

Wolves await at Anfield on December 27, a fixture Liverpool will approach as strong favourites against a side rooted to the bottom of the table. The broader context, however, is defined by the growing list in the treatment room. Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa may be within reach, but the margin for error is narrowing as availability becomes as important as form.

What follows is the latest Liverpool injury update, with return dates offering hope in some cases and uncertainty in others.

Alexander Isak blow reshapes Liverpool plans

The moment that changed Liverpool’s season arc arrived just 11 minutes after Alexander Isak entered the pitch at Tottenham. Brought on to add cutting edge, he instead became the night’s defining image. Caught by Micky van de Ven as he gave Liverpool a 1-0 lead, Isak was unable to celebrate his third goal of the season.

Photo IMAGO

After prolonged treatment, he was carried off with the assistance of Liverpool’s medical staff. Slot’s initial assessment was blunt, describing it as “not a good thing” that the forward could not continue. The severity soon became clear.

Liverpool confirmed on Monday that Isak fractured his ankle and has undergone surgery. A club statement read: “After diagnosis, an operation was completed today 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.”

Photo IMAGO

For a £125million signing, this is a major setback, both individually and structurally. Liverpool built attacking flexibility around Isak’s presence. Now they must reimagine the balance, likely for months.

Potential return date: Unknown.

Defensive and midfield concerns test depth

Conor Bradley’s night at Spurs was shorter than planned. Returning to the side after missing the Brighton win, the right back lasted only until half time. A chase back on Djed Spence appeared to trigger a hamstring issue, forcing Slot into an early reshuffle.

Photo IMAGO

Slot offered context rather than panic. “With Alex and with Conor, we have to wait. You could see our bench today but this is not the first time. We are not the only team that suffers injuries in this period in England because we play so many games.

“It is quite normal that teams pick up injuries at this time. We’re still picking up points and that is the main thing.”

The tone suggests hope rather than alarm, but Liverpool can ill afford another prolonged absence in wide defensive areas.

Joe Gomez’s situation is more familiar and more frustrating. Starting against Brighton, he lasted just 26 minutes before going down off the ball. Treatment followed, then the slow walk off. Slot confirmed on Friday: “Joe is not in the squad as well for the weekend.”

Gomez’s season has been repeatedly disrupted, and this latest setback only reinforces the sense of fragility around Liverpool’s defensive rotation.

Potential return dates: Bradley unknown, Gomez unknown.

Attacking injuries complicate Liverpool selection

Florian Wirtz offered a reminder of his quality at Spurs, claiming the assist for Isak’s goal. Yet even as Liverpool ran down the clock, concern flickered. The German was seen rubbing his hamstring before making way for Trey Nyoni. No detailed update followed, and the substitution appeared precautionary, a luxury Liverpool can scarcely afford in the current context.

Photo IMAGO

Jeremie Frimpong’s return, by contrast, was a small victory. Making his first appearance in two months, he entered on the hour and briefly raised hearts when he went down late on. Slot was quick to reassure. “No there is no problem at all,” he said. “I did not want to go down for 30 seconds.”

Photo IMAGO

Cody Gakpo’s absence has been felt quietly but consistently. The muscle injury sustained in the 3-3 draw with Leeds has kept him out for three games, yet Slot offered encouragement ahead of Spurs.

“He [Gakpo] had a scan that looked promising so that means that we are not that worried anymore, as we were maybe one or two weeks ago.

“So that means he might come back a bit earlier than expected two weeks ago, but that’s definitely not tomorrow and also not next week.”

Photo IMAGO

Potential return dates: Wirtz December 27 vs Wolves, Frimpong December 27 vs Wolves, Gakpo late December or early January.

Long term absences underline Liverpool reality

Wataru Endo’s injury was revealed alongside Gakpo’s update, a reminder that squad players matter most when numbers thin. Slot confirmed: “It’s going to be weeks [for Gakpo and Endo]. Cody has a muscle injury, and Wata has an ankle injury.”

Photo IMAGO

Endo’s role this season has been limited, but his experience and reliability would have been valuable during this stretch.

Giovanni Leoni’s situation is the most poignant. The young Italian suffered an ACL injury on his Liverpool debut against Southampton and faces a year long recovery. Slot spoke with empathy. “He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year.

Photo IMAGO

“Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.

“There’s never a positive side, but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”

Potential return dates: Endo January 2026, Leoni autumn 2026.

Liverpool’s form suggests resilience. Their injury list suggests reality. Between now and the new year, Slot’s task is not perfection, but survival with momentum intact.