Jack14Bojangles

Article from KICKER, Germany's leading sports magazine: Isak faces months of absence – Will Liverpool bring back a forgotten star? Alexander Isak's first season at Liverpool is threatening to turn into a disaster. Should he actually be sidelined for months, it would be an unexpected opportunity for a duo. Whether Liverpool overpaid for Alexander Isak this summer will likely only be fully assessed in a few years. Looking solely at the current season, the most expensive player in Premier League history is a flop the likes of which the league has rarely seen. In the first few months after his protracted strike in the summer, Isak was in such a deplorable physical state that manager Arne Slot could only use him sporadically. And when he did play, he was a poor imitation of the fearsome goalscorer Liverpool had known from Newcastle United. And now, just as the Swede has gradually caught up physically, he's facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. When he came on as a substitute to score Liverpool's second league goal – making it 2-0 in Saturday's 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur – he was tackled so badly by Micky van de Ven that he was unable to continue. According to English media reports, Liverpool fear Isak has suffered a fracture in his left leg and will be sidelined for months. Even though the former Dortmund player isn't yet the game-changer he's expected to become, this would be a major blow for manager Slot – but also an unexpected opportunity for a duo. Mohamed Salah could suddenly be needed again. The striker, currently at the Africa Cup of Nations, had sidelined himself with his public outburst of frustration, but would certainly be called upon more often by Slot should Isak be out for an extended period. While Liverpool are reportedly not considering a winter sale for the Egyptian, he is likely only interested in a future at Anfield if he isn't permanently relegated to the role of a substitute. And even a player almost forgotten is suddenly being linked with the Reds again: Harvey Elliott, who, after an outstanding U-21 European Championship, was determined to become an established Premier League player and agreed to a loan to Aston Villa with an obligation to buy. However, he's so underutilized by Unai Emery that the purchase option isn't currently being considered – according to The Athletic, the 22-year-old forward would need to play ten matches to trigger it. So far, Elliott has only made three league appearances for the third-placed team, the last one in September. In recent weeks, he hasn't even been included in the squad. Now there's speculation that Elliott could instead expand Slot's options. Villa would certainly not be averse to an early departure, and neither would Elliott. Especially since there's no other way out for him: because he was still playing for Liverpool at the start of the season, he's ineligible to play for any other club in 2025/26.

Okay, but he has to deliver first. Until he's shown that, I'll refrain from praising him. The Rat hasn't lived up to expectations at Reds either. One of the biggest flops I've ever seen. And the Rat was supposedly outstanding here. Past glory is irrelevant. What matters is today.

All I ever hear about is Wissa. Now Wolte is supposed to learn something from him. Wissa first has to emulate Wolte and score seven goals in the Premier League. So far, Wissa is still a great prospect for me. You're all pushing him like he's the Messiah. His goal was due to a huge goalkeeping error. I won't celebrate Wissa until he's delivered that.

I completely agree. The commentator on Sky Germany said that would never have been a penalty, which surprised me, because in the Bundesliga, much worse things get given. Gordon was clearly fouled. The defender went straight for Gordon, not for the ball. And he did it with force. That's definitely a penalty. That's why Barnes later went for the dive, to force a concessionary decision.

I admit that I'm probably a bit biased.

I find Barnes' chance, where he puts the ball next to the post, more disappointing.

There were also some comments here in the forum that attested to Woltemade's lack of quality after his terrible own goal. I'm all the more pleased that Nick showed today that he's got guts and scored both goals. I didn't appreciate the heavy criticism Nick received here in the forum. His own goal in the derby really got to him. But he got back up and scored goals today. Nick is one of the key figures in Toon.

Why do we drop so many points in the second half? The first half was so strong that the draw feels like a defeat once again. Why was Elanga, this complete failure, brought on? In this form, he has no business being in the squad. Eddie needs to ask himself why his substitutions aren't working. Why didn't Woltemade stay on the field instead of bringing Elanga on? Eddie, that wasn't good.

Elanga shouldn't be in the squad in his current condition. He's so bad, I'm almost speechless.

Elanga must play on Barnes

FUCK - Barnes can no longer find the goal.

he's just awful.

Elanga is so stupid!

Please don't bring Elanga on. He's a weakling.

FUCK

I think Chelsea is disgusting. A bunch of spineless pussies.

Especially since the pass would have arrived and perhaps a goal would have resulted from it.

I received this short-sleeved shirt as a Christmas present. It's wrapped up and lying under the Christmas tree.

His best game so far. Always available for a pass, always dangerous. It's a shame he didn't score the hat trick.

What an awesome game today! That's Toon. We could have been 4-0 up already. Chelsea's players are a bunch of spineless divers. They go down at the slightest touch. Big Nick is having a fantastic game today. Always available for a pass, always dangerous. If we always played like this, we'd be right up there at the top.

I don't like Cucurella. He's a nasty rat in my book; he goes down at the slightest touch. He commits nasty fouls against other players.

Totally agree.

Any normal striker sprints towards the ball and then jumps over the sliding defender if he's too late. The striker slides in towards the ball and the defender even though he can already see he can't get to the ball before the defender. To me, that's very reckless, but I suppose it happens in a derby.

I've thought about this for a long time. It makes no sense to play Nick as the lone striker 20-30 meters in front of midfield as long as the old system, which was tailored to Isak, continues to be used. I don't know if Wissa can take over Isak's position one-to-one. But Nick definitely can't. Signing Nick was a huge mistake. If Eddie isn't capable of playing a system with two strikers, with Nick as a second striker, and also implementing an aggressive pressing game, then Nick should either be loaned out or sold. That would be best for both sides. I'm a big admirer of Nick and have seen what he's capable of, for example, with the national teams. But he shouldn't be wasted in a system that's ineffective for him. Either Eddie manages to change his system, or they should part ways. I still love you Geordies, though.

He is not supposed to play as a midfielder, but as a withdrawn second striker.