Isak faces lengthy absence as Slot slams 'reckless' Van de Ven tackle

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Arne Slot has confirmed that Alexander Isak is set for a long spell on the sidelines with a broken leg after a "reckless" challenge from Micky van de Ven in Liverpool's win at Tottenham.Sky Sports News reported on Sunday there were concerns Isak had suffered a significant lower-leg injury - and those fears have now been realised, with the Swedish striker undergoing surgery on Monday. "The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there's a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury." Transfer Centre LIVE! | Liverpool news & transfers🔴Liverpool fixtures & scores | FREE Liverpool PL highlights▶️Got Sky?

Also See: Liverpool news and transfer latest Liverpool fixtures Download the Sky Sports App Live Premier League table Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher says Alexander Isak's broken leg will be a huge blow to Liverpool, but addds he can't see Mohamed Salah leaving the club in January. September 14: Burnley 0-1 Liverpool - match fitness October 25: Brentford 3-2 Liverpool - groin injury October 29: Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace - groin injury November 1: Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa - groin injury November 4: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid - groin injury Isak has scored just three goals across 16 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool but Slot made the point that his levels were improving.Report and highlights: Spurs 1-2 LiverpoolAs it happened | Teams | Stats'Simply impossible' for Isak to show his best"It's been a really challenging and difficult period for him, I think," Slot added."You join a new club, usually when you join a new club - he was very excited of course as well - but you want to show immediately all the qualities you have, but that was simply impossible."Maybe no-one understands, but if you haven't trained for three or four months on a serious level with the team, and you are playing in this league, you're not playing in, I don't know where, but in this league, you need to be on top of your game to impact a game of football."And that took, which we all knew, months before we could bring him in there, because there was no breathing, there were games, games, games.

Analysis: Slot's attacking options dwindlingSky Sports' Rich Morgan: Isak missed four matches at the end of October and start of November with a groin injury which forced him off at half-time of the Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt.He has started five out of nine since returning but any absence now, however lengthy, will be a blow with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the new year. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool It leaves Slot with just Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his last four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.Unlike Isak, Ekitike has hit the ground running since moving to Anfield from Frankfurt for £79m last summer, scoring 11 times in 24 games in all competitions so far this season, including eight in the Premier League.And now in Isak's injury-enforced absence, the 23-year-old has the opportunity to stake his claim as the champions' first-choice No 9 during a crucial run of fixtures.Liverpool face Wolves, Leeds, Fulham and leaders Arsenal over the next two-and-a-half weeks that will shape their bid to finish in the top four.Meanwhile, the Reds also begin their FA Cup campaign at home to Barnsley on January 12, while next month also brings two pivotal Champions League contests in Marseille [January 21] and at home to Qarabag [January 28].Liverpool's next five fixturesDecember 27 - Wolves (H) - Premier LeagueJanuary 1 - Leeds (H) - Premier LeagueJanuary 4 - Fulham (A) - Premier LeagueJanuary 8 - Arsenal (A) - Premier LeagueJanuary 12 - Barnsley (H) - FA Cup