No Timetable for Isak of Liverpool

By Anonymous (not verified), December 22, 2025

From ESPN

Liverpool's Alexander Isak out indefinitely after surgery


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Liverpool striker Alexander Isak will be sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery Monday on a broken ankle and fibula.

The British-record $170 million signing was injured on a tackle by Micky van de Ven while scoring the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 win against Tottenham in the Premier League and limped off.

Isak's absence will not only impact Liverpool's campaign but possibly Sweden's chances of qualifying for the World Cup. Sweden is in the European playoffs in March when it faces Ukraine in the semifinals.

"After diagnosis, an operation was completed today on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture," Liverpool said in a statement. "Isak's rehabilitation will now continue at the AXA Training Centre, with no timeframe yet placed on his return."

Isak's injury is the latest blow in what has been a troubled season for the 26-year-old forward.

A protracted move from Newcastle in the summer meant he eventually arrived at Liverpool in September having not had a full preseason to prepare for the new campaign.

He was gradually eased into Arne Slot's team as he regained full sharpness, but then a groin injury kept him out of the Liverpool lineup for another month. In all, he has made just 10 starts for the Premier League champion and scored three goals.

Slot is already without Mohamed Salah, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations and will have to hope Hugo Ekitike can carry the goal-scoring burden in the meantime.

The France international, who was another new recruit this season, has 11 goals so far for his new club, including one against Tottenham. He has scored five in his past three league games and has the chance to establish himself at the point of Liverpool's attack.

Liverpool is on a six-game unbeaten streak after the Merseyside club's title defense unraveled from September to the end of November.

A remarkable run saw Slot's team lose six out of seven games in the league and tumble down the standings. But after back-to-back wins against Brighton and Tottenham it is up to fifth and level on points with Chelsea in fourth.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.


Mohamed Salah scores late winner in Egypt's opener at AFCON


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Nedum Onuoha discusses whether Alexander Isak's injury could impact Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool. (1:38)

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah scored a stoppage-time goal to give Egypt a 2-1 win over Zimbabwe to start their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Monday.

Zimbabwe had taken a surprise lead at the start of the game, but Manchester City's Omar Marmoush levelled the score in the second half before Salah slotted in his goal to seal the win for the seven-time champions.

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An eighth title for Egypt would extend the Pharaohs' record and give Mohamed Salah his first. The 33-year-old Liverpool star has never won Africa's premier competition.

"We wasted several scoring chances and we didn't have luck on our side," Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said. "That's football. We were the better team throughout the match. Opening games are always difficult."

Salah was captaining the team in his first start since Nov. 26 when Liverpool lost to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

Salah was involved in a contentious back and forth with Liverpool manager Arne Slot in the runup to AFCON -- during which Salah was left out of the squad that travelled to play Inter Milan in the Champions League -- after saying in an interview that he thought the club had blamed for its early-season struggles.

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Prince Dube stunned the favorites in the 20th minute when he took Emmanuel Jalai's cross with his first touch and turned to flick it past Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy with his next.

Salah tried riling his teammates, but they were dealt another blow shortly afterward with Emam Ashour going off injured. The midfielder's tears suggested his tournament is over just as it begun.

Arubi tipped over a fierce strike from Marmoush, Trézéguet was booked for diving in an attempt to win a penalty, then Salah, Marmoush, and Mohamed all had efforts blocked before the break.

The game resumed in the same manner after until Marmoush finally found a way to score from a difficult angle in the 64th.

Salah's winner gave the Pharaohs three points in Group B.

Earlier on Monday, Lyle Foster gave South Africa a winning start in a hard-fought 2-1 over Angola on Monday.

The Bafana Bafana ended a six-game winless streak against Angola, which had won three and drawn three of their meetings since a World Cup qualifier in November 2015.

South Africa's Oswin Appollis opened the scoring in Marrakech with a low strike inside the left post in the 21st minute, but midfielder Show equalized some minutes later when he deflected Fredy's free kick from the wing inside the near post.

Tempers frayed after a foul by South Africa's Aubrey Modiba before the break.

Tshepang Moremi thought he scored a brilliant goal after it. The goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review, and Mbekezeli Mbokazi struck the crossbar with a fierce strike as South Africa kept pushing.

Angola coach Patrice Beaumelle refreshed his attacking lineup by sending on Mabululu and Milson in the 76th but it was Foster who scored at the other end when he curled the ball beyond Hugo Marques' outstretched arm in the 79th.

Mali frustrated Patson Daka scored in stoppage time for 2012 champion Zambia to grab a 1-1 draw against Mali in the early game in Casablanca.

Mali dominated and missed a penalty before the break when Willard Mwanza saved El Bilal Toure's effort - the second saved penalty in as many games at the tournament.

Lassine Sinayoko finally broke the deadlock around the hour mark, but Daka had the final say with a header to earn Zambia a point in Group A.

Host nation Morocco leads the group with three after opening with a 2-0 win over Comoros on Sunday.

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