Liverpool share surgery update on Alexander Isak as six-month worst-case scenario revealed

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Alexander Isak is tackled by Micky van de Ven (Image credit: Getty Images)

Liverpool's record signing Alexander Isak will spend a prolonged period sidelined with a broken lower leg injury.

The Reds' forward has undergone successful surgery to repair the broken bone, identified as the fibula, after sustaining the injury during the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Alexander Isak potentially ruled out until the summer

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: Alexander Isak of Liverpool is assisted off the pitch by medical staff after going down injured during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

Isak is helped from the pitch by Liverpool staff (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Dutchman collided with Liverpool's no.9, who showed signs of discomfort whilst laying on the turf.

Isak was able to walk from the field, aided by Liverpool's medical and physiotherapy staff, but will now spend a lengthy period recuperating.

Alexander Isak is yet to really get firing for Liverpool

Isak's season could be all but over after sustaining an unfortunate injury (Image credit: Getty Images)

In a statement, Liverpool declined to speculate on the length of time it would take before Isak is back on the pitch.

"Isak's rehabilitation will now continue at the AXA Training Centre, with no timeframe yet placed on his return," it read.

The Swede's return will depend on the severity of the injury, although initial healing of a fibula fracture is understood to be a six-to-eight week process.

It is highly likely that Isak will be ruled out for a longer timeframe, however, as a return to full contact sports can take between three-and-six months, according to medical sources.

This puts the remainder of Isak's season in doubt and his participation in Sweden's World Cup play-off fixtures in March under serious threat.

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The 26-year-old has struggled to find his rhythm at Anfield, scoring only a handful of goals since arriving for a Premier League record fee from Newcastle United over the summer.

Subsequent recovery from such a significant injury is expected to further delay his ability to rediscover the sort of form which saw him net 62 goals in 109 appearances for the Magpies across three seasons.

Liverpool are already without Mohamed Salah for the next month whilst the attacker represents Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

In FourFourTwo's view, the wording of Liverpool's statement could spell bad news for Isak and the club's fans, part of which read: "After diagnosis, an operation was completed today on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture."

It suggests Isak may have suffered damage to the surrounding ankle ligaments near to where the fracture took place.

Joe Donnohue
Senior Digital Writer

Joe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.

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