Alexander Isak ruled out of Manchester United clash with groin injury, deepening Liverpool's attacking crisis

Key facts

• Alexander Isak sustained a groin strain in training and will miss Liverpool's match against Manchester United.
• Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle for a British-record £130 million on Deadline Day.
• The 26-year-old has made only 13 Premier League starts and scored three goals this season.
• Isak fractured his leg in December and was sidelined for nearly four months.
• Hugo Ekitike is out for the season with an Achilles tendon rupture suffered in the Champions League.
• Mohamed Salah is also absent with a muscle injury but expected to return before the season ends.
• Liverpool are battling for third place in the Premier League with three games remaining.
• Manchester United, led by Michael Carrick, won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Anfield in October.

Another injury blow for Liverpool's record signing

Alexander Isak will miss Liverpool's Premier League trip to Old Trafford after picking up a groin strain in training, manager Arne Slot confirmed. The Swedish striker, who joined the club for a British-record £130 million from Newcastle United on Deadline Day, has endured a debut season marred by fitness problems. Slot described the injury as "very unlucky and very unhappy" but stressed it was minor, adding that Isak could return as early as next week. The forward is expected to undergo a scan this weekend to determine the full extent of the damage.

A season of setbacks for the Swedish striker

Isak's campaign has been stop-start since his arrival. After a disrupted preseason, he fractured his leg in Liverpool's win at Tottenham Hotspur in December, an injury that ruled him out for nearly four months. He returned after the March international break and scored his first Premier League goal at Anfield in last week's victory over Crystal Palace. In total, Isak has made just 13 Premier League starts and scored three goals. His latest groin problem, sustained in training before the Manchester United match, is the latest in a series of fitness issues that have plagued his time on Merseyside.

Slot's attacking options decimated ahead of crucial fixture

Isak's absence leaves Slot without a fit, recognised senior striker for Sunday's clash. Hugo Ekitike, signed in January, is out for the remainder of the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon during Liverpool's Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain. Mohamed Salah, the club's top scorer, is also sidelined with a muscle injury, though he is expected to return before the end of the campaign. Slot was forced to start Cody Gakpo up front and Jeremie Frimpong at right wing against Manchester United. "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, and then during the week we miss out on Alex as well," Slot said. "But that's not the first time this season."

Top-four race intensifies as Liverpool seek Champions League berth

The match at Old Trafford carries significant weight in the battle for Champions League qualification. Liverpool are currently third, but Bournemouth's lengthy unbeaten run has tightened the race after Brighton & Hove Albion's defeat to Newcastle United. Manchester United, under Michael Carrick, are eager to complete a Premier League double over their rivals following a 2-1 victory at Anfield in October. A win for United would strengthen their grip on a top-three spot, while Liverpool need points to secure their place in next season's Champions League. With three league games remaining, every result is critical.

Salah confirms Anfield exit after conversation with Gerrard

Amid the injury chaos, Mohamed Salah has opened up about his decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season. The 33-year-old, who has spent nine years at the club, revealed that a private conversation with former captain Steven Gerrard helped him reach the decision. Speaking to Gerrard for TNT Sports, Salah said: "I'm happy now. I remember we had that conversation. I appreciated that. People didn't know that you came to my house. We had a good conversation, and you said your opinion and I really appreciate it. I'm glad that I'm leaving now from a big door, and this is also something you mentioned to me, just leaving on your terms. It's time to go." Salah added that he has not yet decided on his next move but feels at peace with his choice.

Outlook: Liverpool hope for swift returns as season reaches climax

Slot expressed optimism that both Isak and Alisson Becker, who missed the match with a groin injury, could be available for next week's home fixture against Chelsea. "We're hoping to have him back next week, but that's small margins, as it always is," Slot said of Isak. Liverpool's final three league games will determine whether they secure a Champions League berth. With their attacking trio of Isak, Ekitike, and Salah all unavailable, the burden falls on a makeshift forward line. The club's record signing may yet have a chance to contribute before the season ends, but his debut campaign will be remembered for its interruptions rather than its impact.

The bottom line

• Alexander Isak's groin injury is minor but rules him out of the Manchester United match; he could return next week.
• Isak's debut season at Liverpool has been defined by injuries: a fractured leg and now a groin strain, limiting him to 13 league starts and three goals.
• Liverpool are without three key attackers — Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and Mohamed Salah — for the crucial top-four clash.
• Mohamed Salah has confirmed he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, citing a conversation with Steven Gerrard as influential.
• The match at Old Trafford is pivotal for Champions League qualification, with both Liverpool and Manchester United vying for a top-three finish.