Alexander Isak’s Liverpool Nightmare Goes On: Arne Slot Gives £125m Striker 0.1% Chance of Recovery for Reds’ Next Game

Injury Chaos Deepens as Arne Slot Faces Critical Period After Six Defeats in Seven

When Liverpool smashed the British transfer record to bring in Alexander Isak from Newcastle United, the move was seen as a statement — an emphatic declaration that the Arne Slot era would be bold, attacking, and unafraid to spend big.

Yet, just two months later, those dreams have turned sour. Isak’s Liverpool journey, still in its infancy, is already threatening to become a nightmare. His stop-start season has been derailed by injury, and this week brought yet another dose of bad news.

In his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa, Arne Slot admitted that the £125 million forward has virtually no chance of returning.

“Ryan trained with us yesterday,” Slot said. “The other two — Isak and Curtis [Jones] — didn’t yet. Things can slow down a bit or go faster in the end phase, but I would say the other two are 99.9% sure not in the squad on Saturday.”

For Liverpool supporters, the update felt like a cruel continuation of an all-too-familiar theme.

The Dream That Never Took Flight

When Isak limped off during Liverpool’s 5–1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt in September, the initial hope was that it was nothing serious. But weeks turned into months, and optimism faded.

The injury, described internally as a “complex muscular issue,” has proved stubborn. Isak’s explosiveness — the very quality that defined him at Newcastle — has been the hardest thing to recover.

Liverpool’s attack, built to revolve around his intelligent movement and calm finishing, has suffered without him. In his absence, the team’s rhythm has faltered.

Six defeats in their last seven games have plunged Slot’s side into crisis. The latest, a 3–0 home loss to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, left fans stunned and sections of the media openly questioning the Dutchman’s methods.

The Premier League table tells its own story. Four consecutive league defeats have seen Arsenal open up a seven-point lead at the summit. What started as a promising campaign has quickly descended into a test of endurance — and patience.

Slot’s Storm Intensifies

isak

Injuries have been a recurring theme of Slot’s first few months in charge. The manager inherited a squad already fragile from last season’s fatigue, but the scale of Liverpool’s current crisis is still remarkable.

Alongside Isak, Curtis Jones remains sidelined after limping off against Brentford, while Jeremie Frimpong is nursing a hamstring problem. Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s ever-reliable goalkeeper, is recovering from a muscle strain that’s ruled him out of key matches.

Young defender Giovanni Leoni, touted as one of Europe’s most promising centre-backs, is also out long-term — with fears that his season could be over before it really began.

The cumulative effect has been devastating. Without stability in key positions, Slot’s Liverpool have struggled to maintain control in games. Defensive errors have multiplied, midfield intensity has dipped, and their forward line has looked disjointed.

Yet, amid the gloom, there is a sliver of hope.

Gravenberch Returns to Boost a Broken Midfield

The one positive from Slot’s update concerned Ryan Gravenberch. The Dutch midfielder, who twisted his ankle against Manchester United earlier this month, is finally back in full training.

“Ryan trained with us yesterday and will train again today,” Slot confirmed. “Then we’ll make the call whether he is able to start.”

Gravenberch’s return is a much-needed lift. Liverpool have looked increasingly lightweight in midfield since his absence. In the three matches he’s missed, the Reds have conceded seven goals — and looked particularly vulnerable in transitions, an area Slot’s system heavily relies upon.

If Gravenberch can return even at 80% fitness, it may help restore some balance. His ability to carry the ball through pressure and dictate tempo gives Liverpool an extra dimension they’ve sorely missed.

Still, as Slot himself admitted, the wider problem is one of availability — not ability.

Slot Stands Firm Amid Growing Criticism

Liverpool v Crystal Palace – Carabao Cup Fourth Round

The defeat to Palace in midweek was a tipping point for many supporters. Questions about team selection, squad depth, and tactical flexibility have grown louder.

But Slot, characteristically composed, pushed back against claims that Liverpool lack quality or depth.

“We have enough to play the games,” he said. “I have to take care of a few of them, which is why I made the decision not to play seven or eight [regulars].”

“I am happy with the team and convinced by the strategy we have. But not all of them had a proper pre-season, and some have been injured. So when three or four are out, you’re back to fifteen or sixteen [fit players].”

The Dutchman was quick to emphasise that this wasn’t an excuse — merely an explanation.

“Maybe last season we were lucky, and now unlucky? We’ve had a few away games with only a few days’ rest in between. No excuses — before people say that — but we have to manage the situation.”

It’s an honest admission that the schedule has caught up with them. Liverpool’s congested calendar, combined with a spate of muscle injuries, has left Slot juggling a threadbare squad through a brutal autumn period.

Isak’s Struggles Symbolise Liverpool’s Season

Few stories capture Liverpool’s malaise more clearly than Isak’s.

Brought in to be the crown jewel of Slot’s attacking rebuild, the Swedish striker’s absence has exposed how fragile that plan was. Without his hold-up play and link-up movement, Liverpool’s attack has lost its focal point.

Hugo Ekitike, still adapting to the Premier League’s physicality, has been thrust into the spotlight ahead of schedule. While talented, he lacks Isak’s composure and understanding of English football’s nuances.

In truth, Isak’s Liverpool career never really began. His brief appearance against Frankfurt showed flashes of what he can offer — sharp touches, clever positioning, and a sense of calm in front of goal — but that cameo remains his only meaningful contribution so far.

The frustration isn’t just about goals; it’s about momentum. Isak was supposed to transform Liverpool’s identity under Slot, offering a blend of technical finesse and physical presence reminiscent of Fernando Torres’ early days. Instead, the team has been forced into constant tactical reshuffles.

A Manager Under Pressure, But Still in Control

It’s easy to forget how early we still are in the Arne Slot project. He was hired to modernise Liverpool’s footballing DNA, following Jürgen Klopp’s departure, and the process was always going to take time.

The current run — six defeats in seven — feels catastrophic, but there are mitigating factors. Liverpool’s expected goals and shot-creation metrics remain solid, suggesting the performances aren’t as poor as the scorelines imply.

And crucially, the dressing room still appears united behind Slot. His calmness and tactical clarity have earned him respect from players and staff alike, even amid the turbulence.

But football is rarely patient. The upcoming fixtures — Aston Villa, Everton, and Arsenal — will define how much breathing room Slot is afforded. Another run of losses, and the narrative will shift from bad luck to bad management.

Villa Visit Arrives at a Critical Juncture

Saturday’s match against Aston Villa comes at a delicate moment.

Villa, under Unai Emery, are organised and clinical — the kind of team Liverpool have struggled against lately. And while they too are nursing injuries — Youri Tielemans, Andres Garcia, and Emiliano Buendia are all doubts — they possess enough quality to make life difficult at Anfield.

With Isak sidelined, Hugo Ekitike will likely lead the line once again. Behind him, Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz are expected to flank the attack, though both have looked fatigued in recent weeks.

Liverpool fans will also be keeping an eye on Harvey Elliott, currently on loan at Villa — though he’s ineligible to face his parent club.

For Slot, this is about more than just three points. It’s about halting the slide, rebuilding belief, and proving that the team’s struggles are temporary rather than terminal.

A Nightmare That Needs an Ending

Alexander Isak’s Liverpool nightmare has dragged on far too long. For a player of his calibre — and with a £125 million price tag attached — expectations were always going to be enormous. But injuries have turned his dream move into a slow, painful ordeal.

Slot insists there’s no timeline on his return, but privately, the club hopes to see him back before the end of November. Whether that’s realistic remains to be seen.

For now, all Liverpool can do is survive — and wait.

Because until Isak returns, until the squad regains its fitness and confidence, Slot’s revolution will remain on hold.

And at a club where patience wears thin quickly, every passing week without progress only deepens the pressure.