Alexander Isak injury: Does the striker’s absence mean Liverpool have to act in the January market, or are there alternatives? |Soccer News

Liverpool have suffered some blows since the start of Arne Slott’s challenging second season at Anfield. News of record signing Alexander Isak’s injury was only recently. This is not the debut Slott had envisioned for his capable striker.

Isak, who has just scored his second Premier League goal since making his high-profile summer move from Newcastle, was caught sliding by Mickey van de Ven in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Tottenham and immediately signaled to the bench for medical attention.

The extent of the injury, which is deemed to be ‘serious’, has not yet been revealed, but being sidelined for several months will do little to help start his already disjointed start to life at Liverpool. Isak started off late, scoring only three goals in 16 games in all competitions. Fitness and form issues are likely to carry over into the new year.

So how will Liverpool respond? With the January deadline just around the corner, what are your options and who could be affected?

Will Semenyo hold the key?

Winter is notoriously more difficult to negotiate than summer, but Liverpool were always likely to be active in January. However, the work is interrupted due to Isaac’s injury.

The need to spend on defensive reinforcements has long been recognized. That is a priority and they remain keen on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi to fill that gap. With Kodi Gakpo also injured and Mohamed Salah also absent for AFCON, the front line also appears to be lacking.

Perhaps Isaac’s absence will simply accelerate succession planning. As Slott moves away from the last remaining pillar of Jurgen Klopp’s famous front three, a replacement for Salah will always be needed in the near future.

Hugo Ekitike will replace Isak, but some might argue that he shows far more promise than the indifferent Sweden international anyway, but if more money is being spent at the top end, a more versatile winger type might be preferred. Liverpool did not replace Luis Diaz in the summer, a decision that has since been criticized given the money spent to form a front line that scored just two more goals than Bournemouth.

The ideal solution would be Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, whose name is at the top of each club’s Christmas list. He has scored just over 30 per cent of Cherries’ Premier League goals this season and, like Dias, is an astute dribbler. With Salah’s departure in this area, the need for this will only increase.

The buzz surrounding Semenyo means Liverpool will face stiff competition to sign him, but there is unlikely to be a better value-for-money option that can meet elite-level competition and has the added bonus of adaptability on both flanks. There are very few players who are so adept with both feet.

What does that mean for Salah?

Salah clearly has a lot of work to do. It is reasonable to suggest that his poor level of performance warrants an apology as much as his controversial outburst in Leeds’ mixed zone. His departure for AFCON could not have come at a better time, when the air is clear and short-term memory begins the process of forgiveness and forgetting.

Even though Salah rediscovered his best form while playing for Egypt in January and returns to Anfield rejuvenated, few will begrudge him being selected into the slot starting XI, but that is purely on merit. The Dutchman proved that no player can waltz into selection.

Salah’s return should be a footballing decision, but there is no doubt that he could still play an important role at Liverpool if Slott gets it right. First, mutual understanding must be achieved.

As for his future, Isak’s absence means Slott cannot afford to further reduce his attacking options. Salah is definitely not for sale, even if he was actually scheduled to be listed as available in January this year.

Making history off the bench in last week’s 2-0 win over Brighton was the perfect temporary parting gift and should have ended things on a positive note after all that turmoil. Perhaps a more selfless version of Salah will actually benefit all parties moving forward, including himself.

What are the consequences of doing nothing?

Given Ekitike’s potential and obvious desire to be a main player, some might argue that Isak’s injury poses a smaller problem than originally thought.

His loss is a blow, but it won’t be fatal as long as Ekitike stays healthy. Make him the central character. In fact, the more pressing question is what’s going on around the Frenchman and how Slott will build his team to get the most out of his top scorer.

Several tactical test cases have been tried recently, such as incorporating Dominik Szoboszlai from the right flank as part of a diamond formation. The design of the set-up placed Florian Wirths at the center of the attacking phase, making him more effective as a result, at the expense of width.

Adjustments in recent weeks to make Liverpool stronger by prioritizing additional midfielders over attackers have also worked in Slott’s favor. In terms of personnel needs and other aspects, the improved control seen in the wins over Brighton and Inter Milan should be seen as a positive development.

However, given that Liverpool will have so many games to play, options B and C are mandatory. Slott doesn’t seem to have faith in Federico Chiesa from the start, despite his impact when he came on, and it’s unsustainable to have Ekitike carry the scoring burden over three tournaments. Therefore, others must also cooperate.

Jeremy Frimpong has also had injury problems, but is a fast and creative right-sided player. Although he excelled in the wing-back role at Bayer Leverkusen, Slott will now know he is not a right-back.

Personally, I like the option of Ryan Gravenbirch taking a more senior position. It seems like a long time ago now, but when Liverpool started the season with five wins on the bounce, Graven-Birch was Liverpool’s best player, albeit in a more free role between the lines and almost always unmarked late into the box. A stronger connection between him and Wirtz could unlock all sorts of possibilities. The heatmap above reveals how much more area he is now being asked to cover, reducing his focus on the opposition.

One option is to bring Harvey Elliott back from the cold, given his loan move to Aston Villa fell through. Manager Unai Emery recently said he intended to “find a solution” for the 22-year-old, who has not been named in Villa’s squad since early November, and said it might be most appropriate to bring him back to Merseyside. Elliott, who has already played for two clubs this season, is not eligible to play for another club.

No matter how the dice roll, slots require you to make a decision. For the missing Isak, care must be taken to determine whether reshuffling provides a temporary solution or whether a more permanent solution is needed. But it will probably take just as much effort to get more from the team.