Liverpool striker Alexander Isak was forced off with an ankle injury shortly after scoring against Tottenham. The Sweden international scored from the bench, but his ankle got stuck between the Spurs star’s leg and the turf when Micky van de Ven tried to block him.
Jeremy Frimpong, himself back from injury, replaced Isak after just 11 minutes on the pitch and supplied a cross that was headed in by Hugo Ekitike. Cristian Romero appealed for a foul, but the Spurs captain filed a protest and it was dismissed.
Isak has been plagued by injuries in recent months since joining from Newcastle United on deadline day without a proper pre-season. Before his goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he had scored just two goals since joining for a British record fee.
Isak and Ekitike share most of the minutes, but they played together up front at San Siro when Arne Slott tried out a new formation without wingers. Due to Isak’s injury, both players were on the pitch at the same time for just 11 minutes on Saturday night.
Slott spoke to Sky Sports about both players ahead of the game against Tottenham. Despite Ekitike starting, he did not rule out the possibility of the pair playing together again.
Asked if Isaac will have to wait for time with Ekitike, who is in top form, Slott said: “No, they can also play together. They have already done that twice this season.”
“I think it’s obvious why we didn’t play more often, especially because Alex, but also Hugo, can’t always play two games in three or four days.
“But they are definitely a couple as well. Hugo can play on the left, so they can play together too, but today I decided to play with Hugo.”
