Latest Alexander Isak injury concern could mean Liverpool see a full Premier League debut vs Man City
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Just as he was hitting form for club and country, Alexander Isak has picked up a potential injury issue.Isak scored for Sweden on Thursday, making it five goals for the season, having smashed in four during Liverpool‘s opening five Premier League matches of the campaign.Whether he will be involved in the sixth – a potentially fiery clash with Manchester City at Anfield on October 11th – is now in doubt, after Liverpool confirmed that Isak had returned to Merseyside for evaluation. Fairly? 🤔 Lewis Koumas could be handed his first league startJust as Isak was performing well for Sweden, Koumas picked up the man of the match award from the Welsh press for his display leading the line against Portugal.The 21-year-old has been a reference point for Andoni Iraola so far, with the Basque coach reportedly showing footage of his press to Isak in order for him to do the same.While there is perhaps a gap in quality between Koumas and many of his Liverpool teammates, the Wales international makes up for it in effort and endeavour, and with Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa still missing, Isak’s injury could put him in the spotlight against City.Anfield will be riled up to face Enzo Maresca’s team after the news that Man City will be found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, and Koumas is exactly the kind of player who could whip them up even further.READ MORE: Cody Gakpo says Jurgen Klopp’s Germany team have displayed some bad behaviour which he doesn’t likeAlexander Isak is to return from international duty due to a minor injury.The striker will not be involved in Sweden’s three remaining fixtures in the current international break and will now be assessed by club medical staff at the AXA Training Centre ℹ️…— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 27, 2026 View X It would be just rewards for the youngster, who has applied himself phenomenally under Iraola so far to rise quickly up the forward line ranks.Cody Gakpo could be another option, of course, but the Dutchman has found a new lease of life while playing from the right, and Iraola will likely want to keep him there – or on the left – to hurt the club he almost joined one month ago.
What do we know about Isak’s injury? Isak was spotted with a bloody toe after Sweden’s win over Romania on Thursday, with the striker confirming that he had been struck with a hefty challenge during the game.“You can see it.
“Those of you who have played may know that it [the pain] takes a few minutes before it releases, but it was okay.”For now, it is unclear if this is the issue which has forced him to pull out of the three matches against Poland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Romania, but both the official statement of Isak’s release from Sweden and the Liverpool one which followed describe his problem as being a ‘minor’ one.While that will not quite ease the nerves of worried Liverpool supporters, it does at least sound hopeful that, given the extra recovery time, Isak should be okay to play against City.If he is not, supporters will be worried that their chances of getting one over Maresca’s boys – and scoring a win for the whole of English football – will be severely damaged. But Koumas is waiting in the wings for his chance, and after seeing how he has stepped up so far this season, it may not be such a bad thing after all.