Alexander Isak's groin injury sidelines him for Manchester United clash, but Slot expects swift return

Key facts

• Alexander Isak missed Liverpool's Premier League match at Manchester United on Sunday due to a groin injury sustained in training.
• Isak scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on April 25, his only league goal for the club.
• The Sweden international fractured his leg in Liverpool's 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur in December, sidelining him for nearly four months.
• Liverpool paid Newcastle United £125 million (€145 million) for Isak on transfer deadline day last summer, a club record.
• Isak has made only 13 Premier League appearances for Liverpool this season, scoring one goal.
• Liverpool were also without Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, and first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker for the United match.
• Arne Slot said Isak's groin problem is 'really small' and he could be available for next Saturday's home game against Chelsea.
• Liverpool are battling for a Champions League place, with Bournemouth closing in after Brighton's defeat at Newcastle.

Another setback for Liverpool's record signing

Alexander Isak was ruled out of Liverpool's crucial Premier League trip to Manchester United on Sunday after picking up a minor groin injury in training, the latest blow in a debut season that has been repeatedly derailed by fitness problems. The Sweden international, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a club-record £125 million on transfer deadline day last August, had only recently returned from a broken leg suffered in December. He scored his first Premier League goal for the Reds in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace a week earlier, but the groin issue forced him to miss the clash at Old Trafford. Manager Arne Slot confirmed the injury to Sky Sports before kick-off, expressing frustration at yet another absence for his costly recruit. 'After our last win against Palace, you go into the week and in the start you already know you're going to miss out on Mo [Salah], and then during the week we miss out on Alex as well,' Slot said.

A season of injuries for Isak

Isak's debut campaign at Anfield has been defined by injury interruptions. After a disrupted pre-season, he fractured his leg in Liverpool's 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur in December, an injury that sidelined him for nearly four months. He returned after the March international break and showed signs of rediscovering his form, but the groin problem sustained in training ahead of the United match has halted his momentum once again. Slot described the setback as 'very unlucky and very unhappy' but stressed it was minor. 'Alex, it wasn't much, but unfortunately it was too much for him to be able to play,' Slot said. 'We're hoping to have him back next week, but that's small margins, as it always is.'

Liverpool's growing injury list

Isak was not the only notable absentee for Liverpool at Old Trafford. Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, and first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker were also unavailable, compounding Slot's selection problems. With Salah and Ekitike out, Slot started Cody Gakpo as the central striker and Jeremie Frimpong on the right wing. The lengthy injury list also included Giorgi Mamardashvili, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni, Milos Kerkez, and Jayden Danns. Slot acknowledged that injuries have been a recurring theme throughout the season. 'I don't think in general it's a surprise that after we pick up injuries, that has happened so many times this season, no one can be surprised that it happened now again,' he said.

What the injury means for Isak and Liverpool

Slot expressed optimism that Isak's groin issue is minor and that the striker could be back in action as early as next week, when Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime. With only three Premier League games remaining after the United match, Isak's season is not over. The Reds are closing in on a Champions League berth, but Bournemouth's lengthy unbeaten run has tightened the race after Brighton & Hove Albion's defeat at Newcastle United. Slot will want Isak available for the final fixtures, especially with Salah and Ekitike also sidelined. 'Of course, very unlucky and unhappy with the fact Alex picked up a small—really small—injury,' Slot said. 'That's why this game came a bit too early.'

Isak's record move and high expectations

When Liverpool completed the record-breaking signing of Isak on deadline day, the club was expected by many to canter to successive Premier League titles. The 25-year-old had established himself as a superstar at St. James' Park, scoring 28 goals in 58 Premier League appearances for Newcastle. However, a disrupted pre-season and the broken leg have meant Isak has had anything but a dream debut campaign on Merseyside. His only Premier League goal for Liverpool came in the win over Crystal Palace, his first at Anfield since leaving Newcastle. The £125 million fee made Isak the most expensive signing in Liverpool's history, and the club's investment has yet to yield the expected returns due to his persistent fitness issues.

Outlook for the final weeks of the season

Isak's availability for the remaining matches will be crucial for Liverpool's push for a top-four finish. The Reds are in a tight battle with Bournemouth and Brighton for Champions League qualification, and Slot will need his key players fit. Slot's comments suggest Isak could return for the Chelsea game, but the manager cautioned that recovery is 'small margins.' The groin problem is not expected to require a long lay-off, but Liverpool will monitor the striker closely in training this week. For Isak, the final games of the season offer a chance to end a frustrating campaign on a positive note and build momentum for next season. But his injury record at Liverpool—and previously at Newcastle, where he dealt with nagging issues—raises questions about his long-term durability.

The bottom line

• Alexander Isak missed Liverpool's match at Manchester United due to a minor groin injury, his second significant setback of the season after a broken leg in December.
• The £125 million record signing has made only 13 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, scoring one goal.
• Arne Slot expects Isak to return for next Saturday's home game against Chelsea, describing the injury as 'really small.'
• Liverpool were also without Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike, and Alisson Becker for the United match, highlighting a deep injury crisis.
• Isak's stop-start debut season has prevented Liverpool from fully benefiting from their record investment, with the club now battling for a Champions League place.