Wednesday night in the Champions League saw Liverpool manager Arne Slot make several bold decisions, especially following four consecutive defeats.
With the team struggling for form and desperate for a win, Slot made the surprising choice to bench talisman Mohamed Salah against Eintracht Frankfurt and also tweak the team’s formation.
The standout move was starting British record signing Alexander Isak alongside in-form Hugo Ekitike for the first time.
The risks paid off handsomely, as Liverpool routed their German opponents 5-1, with Ekitike scoring against the club he had left in the summer to join Merseyside.
However, the victory came with a cost—Isak had to be substituted at halftime due to a groin injury.
“He had to come off at halftime because he felt a little discomfort in his groin,” Slot told TNT Sports after the match.
“That’s unfortunate, but it’s always tricky to manage a player who has been out for three months.
“You bring them back gradually, and some argue that you can’t play them longer or more often. We played him for the second time in three days, and unfortunately, he had to come off.
“Let’s hope it’s nothing serious.”
Adding to the injury concerns, right-back Jeremie Frimpong also left the pitch in the first half with a hamstring problem. Slot confirmed he will be out for a few weeks.
Reported by TSN