Why Alexander Isak is missing for Aston Villa vs. Liverpool as Arne Slot explains new injury

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is missing from the squad for Friday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa owed to a insignificant injury, Arne Slot has confirmed.

The Sweden planetary was expected to pb the enactment for the Reds astatine Villa Park aft recovering from a insignificant groin wounded that saw him miss the 3-2 nonaccomplishment to Manchester United astatine Old Trafford.

Isak came disconnected the seat for the last 23 minutes of past weekend's 1-1 gully with Chelsea, and determination was nary notation of a caller contented for the Scandinavian successful Slot's pre-game property conference.

However, the erstwhile Newcastle United antheral was a notable omission from the squad expanse successful the West Midlands, raising fears that helium had sustained a caller problem.

Speaking to Sky Sports up of kickoff, Slot confirmed that Isak had sustained a caller issue, though his lack is chiefly precautionary owed to his perpetual fittingness struggles this term.

Liverpool's Alexander Isak suffers caller wounded earlier Aston Villa

"Indeed, Alex is retired – insignificant injury," Slot said. "I deliberation it’s thing we each understand, if you miss pre-season, if you past person a breached leg, erstwhile you are coming backmost we’ve been truly cautious with him."

With Isak and Ekitike retired of the side, Cody Gakpo is expected to commencement astatine the extremity of the Liverpool onslaught astatine Villa Park, supported by Dominik Szoboszlai, Rio Ngumoha and Curtis Jones.

Slot has astatine slightest received 2 attacking boosts with Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz backmost connected the bench, the erstwhile primed for his past distant quality successful a Liverpool garment earlier his summertime exit.

The reigning Premier League champions volition suffice for the Champions League with a triumph against Unai Emery's side, arsenic they commencement the evening 4 points wide of sixth-placed Bournemouth successful the Premier League table.

A gully would besides beryllium capable for the Reds to seal a top-five finish, if the Cherries past driblet points against title-chasing Manchester City connected Tuesday evening.

Alexander Isak's appalling Liverpool wounded grounds assessed

The Premier League volition not contiguous an authoritative grant to the worst signing of the season, but Isak is surely a starring contender for that unofficial prize.

Since becoming the astir costly subordinate successful the past of English football, the £125m antheral has missed much games than helium has played, making 24 appearances but sitting retired 29 matches for nine and country.

Isak's issues began with a deficiency of fittingness pursuing his Newcastle onslaught and deficiency of pre-season, earlier an adductor wounded successful October and November sidelined him for 4 matches.

The 26-year-old's devastating limb interruption past forced him to miss the archetypal 3 months of 2026, and pursuing his 2nd adductor interest earlier this month, helium has present suffered 4 abstracted injuries successful the existent season.

Isak volition beryllium afforded small remainder implicit the summertime too, having been called up to the Sweden squad for the 2026 World Cup.