Arne Slot Reveals Real Reason Alexander Isak Was Subbed At Half-Time

Arne Slot has explained why Alexander Isak was substituted at half-time during Liverpool's 5-1 win over Frankfurt.

The Reds led 3-1 at the break following goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Slot picked Ekitike and Isak in the same starting XI for the firs time since both players arrived at Anfield in the summer.

Isak has been working his way up to match fitness after refusing to play for Newcastle during pre-season and training away from the first team before his £125 million deadline day move.

He has started his last four games in all competitions for club and country, but the timing of his substitution against Frankfurt left Liverpool fans concerned.

Contrasting fortunes for Liverpool's big-money forwards 👍👎

A goal for Ekitike whilst Isak was hooked at half-time. pic.twitter.com/DFQgc4HOkl

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 22, 2025

And Slot has now confirmed that injury was the reason for his early withdrawal.

He told TNT Sports that Isak was feeling 'discomfort in his groin', and added: "Let's hope it's not too bad."

Slot continued: "I've said it many times, it's such a difficult balance to find with a player that missed out three months.

"You bring him slowly, you bring him slowly, people also maybe sometimes argue why we cannot play him more often or for longer.

"Now we've played him for the second time in three days, and he's had to go off. It's not an easy balance to find when the player's been out for so long."

The Sweden international suffered a groin injury during the 2023/24 season, missing eight matches for club and country between October and November.

He then suffered a recurrence of that problem in January and missed a further four matches.

Those issues continued last season - albeit the striker only missed a single game on both occasions - with Newcastle boss Eddie Howe stating in May that neither the club or Isak himself had yet figured out what was causing the persistent injuries to the same area.

"It certainly probably needs looking at as to why he is getting those sort of groin complaints," Howe said.

"It is definitely not a surgery issue, it is probably more of a what is he doing to strengthen that area issue."

Isak will now be an injury doubt for Liverpool's next Premier League fixture on Satirday, which sees them take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.