Liverpool's record signing Alexander Isak will spend a prolonged period sidelined with a broken lower leg injury.
The Reds' forward has undergone successful surgery to repair the broken bone, identified as the fibula, after sustaining the injury during the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
Isak swept in Liverpool's opening goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but needed immediate treatment following the challenge of Micky van de Ven, whose intervention was in vain.
Alexander Isak potentially ruled out until the summer
The Dutchman collided with Liverpool's no.9, who showed signs of discomfort whilst laying on the turf.
Isak was able to walk from the field, aided by Liverpool's medical and physiotherapy staff, but will now spend a lengthy period recuperating.
In a statement, Liverpool declined to speculate on the length of time it would take before Isak is back on the pitch.
"Isak's rehabilitation will now continue at the AXA Training Centre, with no timeframe yet placed on his return," it read.
The Swede's return will depend on the severity of the injury, although initial healing of a fibula fracture is understood to be a six-to-eight week process.
It is highly likely that Isak will be ruled out for a longer timeframe, however, as a return to full contact sports can take between three-and-six months, according to medical sources.
This puts the remainder of Isak's season in doubt and his participation in Sweden's World Cup play-off fixtures in March under serious threat.
The 26-year-old has struggled to find his rhythm at Anfield, scoring only a handful of goals since arriving for a Premier League record fee from Newcastle United over the summer.
Subsequent recovery from such a significant injury is expected to further delay his ability to rediscover the sort of form which saw him net 62 goals in 109 appearances for the Magpies across three seasons.
Liverpool are already without Mohamed Salah for the next month whilst the attacker represents Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In FourFourTwo's view, the wording of Liverpool's statement could spell bad news for Isak and the club's fans, part of which read: "After diagnosis, an operation was completed today on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture."
It suggests Isak may have suffered damage to the surrounding ankle ligaments near to where the fracture took place.
