Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has strongly criticized Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven for a “reckless” tackle that resulted in Alexander Isak suffering a fractured leg. The injury occurred during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at Tottenham on Saturday.
Isak underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair an ankle injury, including a fractured fibula, but Slot confirmed the striker will be out for “a couple of months.”
Despite the severity of the challenge, neither referee John Brooks nor video assistant referee Stuart Attwell penalized Van de Ven, causing frustration within the Liverpool camp. The match also saw Spurs’ Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero sent off.
Slot described the Van de Ven tackle as dangerous, saying, “If you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury.” He contrasted it with the challenge on Xavi Simons, which he called “completely unintentional” and unlikely to cause injury.
The injury is a significant setback for Isak, who has struggled with fitness since joining Liverpool. His goal against Tottenham was only his third for the club, and Slot remains hopeful that Isak will return before the season ends.
Slot explained the challenges Isak has faced adapting to the Premier League, noting the lack of pre-season and limited training time. “Maybe no one understands but if you have not trained for three or four months on a serious level with the team and you are playing in this league you need to be on top of your game to impact a game,” he said.
Slot also mentioned that Conor Bradley was injured in the same match and is “50-50” to play against Wolves on Saturday.
This incident highlights the physical risks in the Premier League and the impact of injuries on key players like Isak.
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