Former Liverpool striker bizarrely points finger at Alexander Isak for his own leg break

 

 

Alexander Isak is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg against Tottenham. While much of the discussion has focused on Micky van de Ven’s challenge, former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders has controversially placed some of the blame on Isak himself.

Isak, who was struck by Spurs defender Van de Ven while scoring the opening goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 win in north London, required surgery for a fractured fibula and ankle injury, as confirmed by the club earlier this week. Arne Slot has suggested there’s a chance Isak could return before the season’s end, but he is expected to miss at least two to three months.

The tackle that caused the injury has sparked debate. Slot criticized Van de Ven’s challenge as “reckless,” whereas former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher defended the Dutchman. Now Saunders has weighed in, oddly attributing part of the responsibility to Isak.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Saunders said: “Isak is on another level. He can outrun defenders, make runs behind the defense, and score goals from nothing. Even though he hasn’t shone at Liverpool yet, he’s still a top-class player.

“I’ve heard a lot about that challenge. As a striker, when you take a shot, you need to lift your foot. You can’t plant your standing leg if a defender is coming in for a last-ditch challenge. If you do, you risk breaking your leg. Strikers learn to avoid tackles like that, and Isak should have known it was coming. I partially blame him for not moving out of the way.”

Slot, however, disagrees, insisting Van de Ven’s tackle was entirely at fault. “That was a reckless challenge,” he said. “Even in tackles like Xavi Simons’, injuries are unlikely and mostly unintentional. But Van de Ven’s challenge? Ten times out of ten, a serious injury could happen.”