Premier League 2025-26: Slot sees signs of Liverpool improving after scrappy Tottenham win, but regrets Isak injury

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said his side showed signs of improvement after a chaotic 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, but lamented the loss of record signing Alexander Isak to a potentially serious injury.

The £125 million ($167.2 million) forward broke the deadlock with his second league goal for Liverpool after coming on at half-time, but his foot got stuck between Micky van de Ven’s legs as the Tottenham defender dived to block his shot.

Isak lay on the ground for several minutes before gingerly walking away with the help of two members of Liverpool’s medical staff. Slot said his «gut feeling» was that Isak’s injury could be serious, although he tried to be optimistic.

«I don’t have any news about him, but if a player scores and then gets injured and doesn’t come back on the field and doesn’t try to come back… that’s usually not a good thing,» he told reporters.

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“I can’t say anything more about it, that’s purely gut feeling, but there’s nothing medical to say about it.”

Conor Bradley’s return to the side also lasted just 45 minutes after he limped off following a collision with Djed Spence and did not return for the second half, replaced briefly by Isak.

LIVERPOOL FIGHTS AGAINST NINE TOTTENHAM

Liverpool looked to have secured victory when Hugo Ekitike doubled the lead, but substitute Richarlison provided a thrilling finish with an 83rd-minute goal for Tottenham, down to ten men after Xavi Simons’ red card in the first half.

Captain Cristian Romero was then shown a pointless second yellow card for kicking at Ibrahima Konate in the 93rd minute, leaving Tottenham with nine, although Liverpool were still indebted to goalkeeper Alisson for preserving the three points.

Slot said he thought Liverpool were improving after a summer of turmoil which contributed to a dreadful run of form, although the Reds are now unbeaten in six games in all competitions.

“We made so many changes in the summer that it would take time,” says Slot. “Maybe because we won the first five or six games, everyone thought this was going to be so easy.”

He added: «I don’t think it’s ever been as bad as people said. But it’s also true that we’re certainly not perfect yet.»

However, Liverpool’s vulnerability after conceding and how it worked against Tottenham’s nine men will worry the Dutchman, who admitted: «It looked like we only had nine men and they (had) eleven because it was attack after attack after attack».

«It wasn’t perfect today, especially in the last ten minutes,» Slot said. “But in the meantime we are picking up points and I see the team developing as I would like to see.”

Published on December 21, 2025