Arne Slot rules out £125m Liverpool striker for Leeds United visit | OneFootball

Arne Slot has confirmed Alexander Isak will miss Liverpool’s New Year meeting with Leeds United at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah away at AFCON.

Isak was injured while scoring the opener in the 2-1 win at Tottenham, after Micky van de Ven caught him as he tried to block the shot. The club said in a statement that the £125m summer signing will have surgery on a broken ankle.

Slot described the lay-off as long, around a couple of months, calling it a major setback for player and club. He is confident the striker can play a part towards the end of the season, and he criticised the challenge as reckless.

Liverpool’s attacking options are stretched, with Isak sidelined, Salah at AFCON and Cody Gakpo also out. Gakpo could return for Leeds, but that is not guaranteed, and the game will come too soon for any mid-season arrivals.

Slot can still call on Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, the latter scoring twice in the 3-3 draw at Elland Road earlier this month. He says the focus is on back-to-back home games against Wolves and Leeds.

Leeds visit Sunderland on Sunday before Anfield, with the promoted side enjoying an impressive campaign. Daniel Farke hopes Lukas Nmecha will be fit after a hamstring issue, while Daniel James remains out following a hamstring tendon injury sustained in last month’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester City. Leeds appeared to come through their match with Crystal Palace without fresh concerns.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk