Liverpool secured a massive 2–1 victory away at nine-man Tottenham yesterday, Saturday, December 20, 2025, to move up to fifth in the Premier League. However, the headlines are dominated by the condition of Alexander Isak, who scored the opening goal but was immediately forced off with what is feared to be a serious knee injury.
The Swedish international, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle for a British record fee in September, had arguably his most impactful moment in a Red shirt cut short by a controversial challenge.
The "Scoring While Injured" Moment
The breakthrough came in the 56th minute. Following a sloppy pass from Spurs captain Cristian Romero, Florian Wirtz threaded a perfect ball through to Isak, who coolly slotted it past Guglielmo Vicario.
However, as Isak released the shot, Spurs defender Micky van de Ven lunged in with a heavy challenge to block the effort.
The Collision: Van de Ven's momentum saw him collide with Isak’s standing leg. The striker’s knee appeared to buckle under the impact.
No Celebration: While the Liverpool fans erupted, Isak remained on the turf in visible agony, clutching his left knee.
The Exit: After several minutes of treatment, he was helped off the pitch by two medical staff members, unable to put weight on the leg. He was replaced by Jeremie Frimpong.
Arne Slot’s Post-Match Concern
Liverpool boss Arne Slot was understandably somber when discussing his record signing after the final whistle.
"It is too short after the game to speak about it, but it is never good when a player has to come off like that," Slot told the BBC. "If a player scores and then doesn't even try to stay on the pitch, that’s usually not a good sign. We have to wait for the scans."
Early reports from injury analysts have raised fears of a potential ACL or meniscus injury, which could side-line the forward for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Chaos in North London: Two Red Cards
The injury to Isak was just one flashpoint in a "chaotic" evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
Xavi Simons Red Card (33'): Spurs were reduced to 10 men in the first half after a VAR review upgraded Simons’ yellow card to a straight red for a studs-up challenge on Virgil van Dijk.
The Ekitike Impact: Following Isak’s departure, fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 66th minute with a powerful header.
The Spurs Fightback: Substitute Richarlison pulled one back for the hosts in the 83rd minute, setting up a frantic finish.
Cristian Romero Red Card (93'): Spurs’ hopes of an equalizer vanished when Romero was shown a second yellow card for a petulant kick at Ibrahima Konaté.
What This Means for Liverpool
While the three points are vital for Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions, the potential loss of Isak is a massive blow, especially with Mohamed Salah currently away at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Slot will now have to rely heavily on Hugo Ekitike, who has found his form recently with five goals in his last three matches, to lead the line during the busy festive period.
The Verdict: A pyrrhic victory for the Reds. Liverpool fans will be glued to social media for the official scan results on Isak's knee, which are expected within the next 48 hours.