ISAK LIMPS OFF AFTER SCORING IN LIVERPOOL'S WIN OVER SPURS

ALEXANDER Isak endured a bittersweet evening as the Liverpool striker scored before limping off injured in a chaotic 2-1 win over nine-man Tottenham on Saturday.

Isak put Liverpool ahead in the 56th minute in north London after Tottenham’s Xavi Simons was sent off before the interval for a vuil lunge on Virgil van Dijk.

It was only Isak’s third goal in 16 games in all competitions since his British record £125 million (R2.8 billion) move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day.

Yet in keeping with Isak’s troubled start to life with the Premier League champions, the 26-year-old was unable to fully enjoy his goal as he was forced to come off after being injured by Micky van de Ven’s failed attempt to stop him scoring.

Hugo Ekitike’s fifth goal in his last four appearances put Liverpool in command in the 66th minute before Richarlison’s reply in the 83rd minute set up a tense finale that came to a head with Tottenham defender Romero’s dismissal in stoppage time.

Arne Slot’s span extended their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions, further distancing them from the miserable run of nine defeats in 12 that plunged them into crisis.

While Liverpool steadied the ship with a third successive win, Isak’s injury could not have come at a worse time following Mohamed Salah’s departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Slot would only say that Isak’s injury was “not a good thing”.

He added: “A good goal [for Isak], assisted by Florian Wirtz, and I said last week already players are getting better, the team is getting better.

“Again, it wasn’t perfect, but in the meantime we pick up points and I see the team developing.”