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Liverpool secure narrow victory amid late chaos
Liverpool held on to beat a depleted Tottenham Hotspur side 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, despite ending the match with nine players on the pitch and fresh injury worries.
Isak's moment cut short by injury
Alexander Isak's impact was immediate. The £125 million summer signing came off the bench and scored within minutes, combining with fellow new arrival Florian Wirtz-who registered his first Premier League assist-to give Liverpool the lead. However, his celebration was short-lived. Isak was forced off shortly after following a challenge from Micky van de Ven, raising concerns over the severity of the injury.
Arne Slot, Liverpool's manager, expressed caution when asked about Isak's condition. "We'll have to wait and see," he said. "But if a player scores and then gets injured and doesn't try to come back on the pitch, that's usually not a good thing."
Injury woes mount for Liverpool
Isak's early exit was not the only setback for Liverpool. Conor Bradley was substituted at half-time due to a knock, while Jeremie Frimpong, who replaced Isak, was himself withdrawn in stoppage time. Slot later clarified that Frimpong's removal was precautionary, as he did not want to risk the full-back playing for mere seconds with a numerical disadvantage.
The match took another dramatic turn when Tottenham were reduced to nine men. Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero were both sent off, yet Liverpool struggled to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Instead, it was Tottenham who dominated possession in the final stages, with Hugo Lloris's side nearly salvaging a draw through Hugo Ekitike's late goal.
Slot reflects on 'unbelievable' final minutes
Slot admitted the closing stages were far from ideal. "It's unbelievable if you play against nine men that I would not be surprised if for the nine minutes of added time, they had the ball for eight and a half," he told BBC Match of the Day. "That is not what you expect, and maybe that tells you where we are in this season."
Despite the chaotic finish, Slot found positives in Liverpool's performance. "Overall, we had good control over the game," he said. "Six games unbeaten, four wins and two draws. We are definitely not perfect yet, but both of our number nines scored. Again, positives to take from the game."
Liverpool's resilience tested
The victory marked Liverpool's third consecutive win, lifting them level with fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table. However, the match highlighted persistent vulnerabilities, particularly in managing leads and handling defensive setbacks.
Jamie Redknapp, commenting on Sky Sports, described Liverpool's final 10 minutes as "a masterclass on how not to manage the game." Slot acknowledged the criticism but emphasized the broader context. "We need a few more wins to get a bit more comfortable with setbacks," he said.
Injury questions loom large
With key players like Mohamed Salah (Africa Cup of Nations) and Cody Gakpo (injury) already sidelined, Isak's potential absence adds to Liverpool's growing injury list. The club will now wait for medical updates to determine the extent of his injury and how long he may be unavailable.
Isak became only the second Liverpool player in Premier League history to be substituted on, score, and then be substituted off, following Yossi Benayoun in 2009. The incident underscores the unpredictability of Liverpool's current campaign, where moments of brilliance are often overshadowed by fresh challenges.
