Liverpool manager Arne Slot has clarified why star striker Alexander Isak was substituted at half-time during the team’s 5–1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Reds were already in control at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, and Ibrahima Konaté. Slot had chosen to start both Ekitike and Isak together for the first time since their summer arrivals, giving fans a glimpse of Liverpool’s new-look attack.
However, supporters were left worried when Isak did not return for the second half. Slot later revealed to TNT Sports that the Swedish forward was forced off after experiencing discomfort in his groin.
“Let’s hope it’s not too bad,” Slot said. “It’s always a difficult balance with a player who has missed three months. You try to bring him back gradually, but people still ask why he doesn’t play more often or for longer. We’ve now played him twice in three days, and unfortunately, he’s had to come off. It’s not easy when a player has been out for that long.”
Isak’s groin problems have been a recurring issue since last season. During the 2023/24 campaign, he missed several matches for both club and country due to similar injuries. Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe previously admitted that the cause of these recurring groin issues remained unclear, suggesting it might relate to strengthening work rather than a surgical concern.
With this latest setback, Isak’s availability for Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League match against Brentford on Saturday is now uncertain
