Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that striker Alexander Isak was withdrawn at half-time during the Reds’ emphatic 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt due to a groin injury. The Swedish forward, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for £125 million this summer, was replaced by Federico Chiesa at the break after feeling discomfort. Speaking after the game, Slot told TNT Sports: “Alexander had to go off at half-time because he felt his groin a little bit. That’s a pity. I’ve said many times it’s such a difficult balance to find with a player that missed three months. We’ve now played him for the second time in three days and unfortunately, he had to go off.” Isak’s fitness has been a concern since joining the club, with past records showing he missed one game in 2024/25 and twelve in 2023/24 due to similar issues. Slot expressed hope that the injury would not be serious, warning that a few weeks on the sidelines could set back the striker’s recovery progress. “Let’s hope for the best,” he said. “If he’s out for a few weeks, it will put him back, so let’s wait.” Meanwhile, Isak’s strike partner Hugo Ekitike, who also joined Liverpool this summer, said their partnership was still developing. “It was not our best half together, but we can improve. He’s a very good player, and with time, the links will come,” Ekitike said. The match also saw right-back Jeremie Frimpong suffer a hamstring injury, forcing him off for Conor Bradley in the first half. The Dutch defender is expected to be out for a few weeks, adding to Liverpool’s growing injury list. Despite the setbacks, Slot was relieved to see his team return to winning ways after four straight defeats. “We needed a win,” he said. “The difference today was that we scored from set-pieces instead of conceding from them. When you’re 3-1 up, you control the game differently.” Ekitike, who scored against his former club, refused to celebrate and expressed gratitude to Frankfurt for shaping his career. “It was special for me to come back. I have so much respect for them. They made me the player I am today,” he told TNT Sports. Captain Virgil van Dijk, who also found the net, said the win was an important morale boost rather than a statement. “I don’t know if it’s a statement, but it’s a win and something to build on,” he said. “We’ve been disappointed with losing games, but the only way forward is to stick together, block the outside noise, and keep working.” Liverpool will now turn their attention to their next Premier League fixture against Brentford, hoping to maintain momentum while monitoring Isak’s recovery closely.
