Jamie Carragher believes Micky van de Ven had to make the challenge on Alexander Isak that has led to the Liverpool striker facing months on the sidelines
Jamie Carragher has defended Micky van de Ven for his tackle on Alexander Isak. But he admits the striker’s absence is a “huge blow” for his former club Liverpool.
Isak was injured in the act of scoring Liverpool’s opening goal at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday with Van de Ven wrapping his legs around the Swede’s left leg. It was immediately clear that the £125m British transfer record signing was in a lot of pain and he limped off after receiving treatment. It was then confirmed on Monday night that Isak had suffered a leg fracture.
And ex-Reds defender Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports: “It’s a huge blow because I think Liverpool were actually one attacker short anyway.
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“There’s a lot been made about a lot of the challenges in the game from Tottenham players and a lot of them weren’t clever. I’ve put myself in Van de Ven’s position and that’s a challenge I’d probably make.
“He’s trying to block it, it’s just the follow through. I don’t know where else anyone thinks his foot’s going to go.
“He has to make that challenge. You can’t let the striker just get a shot away there in that situation.
“It’s just really bad luck for Isak. It’s probably one of the first glimpses we’ve seen of his real quality in a Liverpool shirt.”
Carragher believes Isak’s injury is unlikely to influence the Reds too much in terms of the January transfer window, with head coach Arne Slot boasting options in wide areas.
“I think for certain now Mo Salah will be staying at the club,” Carragher said. “I think there’s a good chance Harvey Elliott will come back from Aston Villa as well.”
Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield and Carragher added: “I think we all know he’s got a buy-out clause in January, and then you’ve got wide players in Salah and (Cody) Gakpo, who’ve played a lot of games through the middle as well.
“They won’t go out and buy a striker who they don’t really want.”
Slot was not drawn on the prospect of transfers at his press conference on Tuesday morning, where he confirmed that Isak is facing months on the sidelines.
He also criticised Van de Ven’s challenge, branding it “reckless”. The Reds boss said: “Yeah, (Isak’s injury) was a reckless challenge.
“I’ve said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons, which for me was completely unintentional. I don’t think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.
“But the tackle of Van de Ven, if you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury.”
