Liverpool secured a win over Tottenham on Saturday but suffered a serious injury setback as Alexander Isak is braced for a spell on the sidelines
Liverpool have been given a new referee verdict on the challenge from Micky van de Ven on Alexander Isak that resulted in a suspected leg break for the striker.
Arne Slot’s side secured a narrow triumph in north London on Saturday evening, with Isak opening the scoring in the second half. However, after he struck the ball into the net, a sliding challenge from Van de Ven caught the striker’s leg as he planted it, leaving him unable to continue.
The visible concern from his teammates in the immediate aftermath of the incident painted a worrying picture. A stretcher was called for, but Isak was able to limp off with the help of Liverpool’s medical staff.
Despite initial fears among fans of a potential ACL injury, that was quickly ruled out by the club, but the suspected outcome is no less severe. Widespread reports on Sunday suggested a possible lower leg break, although it remains unclear how serious the injury is or how long his recovery will take, with the club set to provide an update following scans.
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Understandably, the incident led many onlookers to question why there was no punishment for Van de Ven given the severity of the tackle. Replays showed he dived into the challenge with no realistic chance of winning the ball, and the tackle ultimately resulted in a serious injury.
It has divided opinion, with those on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch disagreeing over whether it was a red-card offence. Former professional Jay Bothroyd claimed that while Van de Ven’s intention would not have been to hurt Isak, the out-of-control nature of the challenge should have resulted in a dismissal.
“Van de Ven has not intentionally tried to hurt Isak,” he explained. “Obviously, he is desperate to stop a goal and he’s coming across to stop the shot.
“This is an example where, yes, Isak has scored, but it should still be a red card. He’s lunging, he’s going into him. Every explanation you want to give for a red-card challenge is there. Because he’s scored, they’ve let it go.
“He’s lunged, he’s out of control. He’s trying to make a block but he’s never going to get there. If that’s in the middle of the park, that’s a red card.”
Former referee Dermot Gallagher did not agree, however, insisting that the challenge was not, in fact, a red-card offence and that the consequence of the tackle should not override the nature of it.
“I can’t see that he’s done anything that a footballer wouldn’t,” he explained. “I would be astonished if that was given as a red card anywhere on the field.
“Players mistime challenges all the time. He’s slightly late… it’s not a red card. Whether it be in the penalty area, in the D, the centre circle or the other half.”
Where the two pundits did agree, however, was that the referee was correct to dismiss Xavi Simons for his challenge on Virgil van Dijk in the first half. The Dutchman went in high and recklessly on his national team captain, catching the defender’s calf with his studs.
“I want to make clear that I don’t think Simons has any intention to do this, but he has done it,” Gallagher added on the Simons incident. “Once you see the replay, you can’t unsee it.
“When VAR sees that, in modern football, it is always going to be a red card. He’s unlucky, but he is always going to see red. You can’t make challenges like that anymore.”
