Alexander Isak: Liverpool striker suffers groin injury in Eintracht Frankfurt win, Arne Slot confirms | Football News

Arne Slot confirmed Alexander Isak was changed at half time of Liverpool’s 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on account of a groin damage.

The striker began alongside Hugo Ekitike in Germany, however his night time was ended on the break as he was changed by Federico Chiesa.

Isak’s type has come beneath scrutiny since his £125m transfer from Newcastle this summer time, having solely scored within the Carabao Cup for his new facet.

After the Champions League encounter – which introduced an finish to a four-match shedding run – Reds boss Slot confirmed Isak got here off due to damage.

He instructed TNT Sports activities: “Alexander needed to go off at half-time as a result of he felt his groin a bit bit. That is a pity.

“I’ve stated many occasions it’s such a tough stability to search out with a participant that missed three months.

“You go slowly with him and folks argue about taking part in him longer. We have now performed him for the second time in three days and sadly he needed to go off.

“Let’s hope for the very best however it isn’t a simple stability to search out when a participant has been out for thus lengthy.”

He later added in his press convention: “At this time with Alex and Hugo, I introduced two gamers on the pitch who’re normally capable of rating targets. Alex was just a few occasions shut however needed to go off at half-time.

“Usually you attempt to put together gamers for once-a-week soccer, however if you’re Liverpool you play each three days or usually 3 times in eight days however we have been unlucky this season we now have to play 3 times in seven days.

“We have tried to arrange him for that, we had been actually cautious, and he was completely match when he got here again from the nationwide workforce earlier than the United recreation.

“We thought he was effectively ready for that however the margins on the prime are small. I am hoping it will not be that unhealthy, as a result of if he is out for just a few weeks it is going to put him again. So let’s wait.”

On beginning with Alexander Isak on Wednesday, Ekitike added: “I believe it was good. It was not our greatest half collectively, however we are able to enhance collectively.

“He is an excellent participant and in time, we have to work collectively and discover a good affiliation. The hyperlinks will come after which it is going to work.”

Proper-back Jeremie Frimpong’s stop-start to the marketing campaign additionally continued after he was dominated out for a “few weeks” with a hamstring damage, which noticed him changed by Conor Bradley within the first half.

Slot: We would have liked a win

Slot was relieved after the beating of Frankfurt, and added an perception into the variations between the match in Germany and their earlier 4 defeats.

He added to TNT Sports activities: “We would have liked a win. What we would have liked extra was one other efficiency the place we create a number of probabilities however the gamers get the reward with a win. That is what occurred.

“I noticed a number of similarities in comparison with the opposite video games as a result of the primary probability they received was a purpose – possibly it was the one probability they’d – and we went 3-1 up, and it is possibly simpler to regulate a recreation while you’re 3-1 up than if you’re 1-0 or 2-1 down.

“However the principle distinction between this recreation and the 4 earlier than was that in most of them, the opposite workforce scored from a set piece and this time, we scored from two set-pieces.

“Then folks centered extra on the assaults we had within the second half slightly than the misplaced passes, which we in all probability had as effectively. However while you’re 3-1 up, you’re judged in a different way.”

Ekitike: I would not be right here with out Frankfurt

It was a fast return to Frankfurt for Ekitike, who joined Liverpool from the Bundesliga membership this summer time. He scored too, refusing to rejoice within the aftermath, and credited Frankfurt with making him the participant he’s now.

“I needed to [score],” he instructed TNT Sports activities. “It was a terrific feeling and it was one thing particular for me to come back again, I might say at dwelling.

“I do know everyone right here so it was a particular recreation for me and to win and rating my first purpose within the Champions League, I am actually joyful.

“I’ve a lot respect for them. They made me the participant I’m proper now, I would not be right here if I did not come to Frankfurt.

“So I come and be respectful and grateful for what they gave to me. I’ll maintain what I realized right here and the worth they gave me with me sooner or later.”

Van Dijk: Not an announcement, but it surely’s a win

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was additionally on the scoresheet in Germany, and stated the one strategy to discover the profitable contact once more was to stay collectively as a bunch.

“I do not know if it is a assertion, but it surely’s a win and one thing to construct on,” he instructed TNT Sports activities.

“I have been within the soccer enterprise for some time so I would not say it is aid [at winning], however we had been upset with shedding video games.

“I do not assume it is occurred in my time, shedding 4 in a row. That is one thing it’s a must to take care of as a bunch, stick collectively, block the skin noise and maintain working.

“The one strategy to carry out in one of the best ways attainable is to concentrate on the duty forward and carry out as a workforce – that is the one strategy to win video games.

“We clearly have the person high quality otherwise you would not play for Liverpool, however it’s a must to do it collectively to achieve success. So maintain going and do not get dragged into that stuff [outside noise].

“At this time, we received. We received three factors on the board, now we get well and prepare for Brentford.”