Having had no pre-season campaign as a result of that protracted transfer saga, the Sweden international has struggled to rediscover match sharpness, unable to replicate the form that made him one of the league’s most feared strikers on Tyneside.
The groin injury ruled him out of last weekend’s defeat at Brentford, also missing the Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace midweek with Slot confirming on Friday morning he is ’99.9 per cent likely’ to miss the visit of Villa on Saturday night.
Get personalised updates on Liverpool every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Isak has struggled with groin injuries in the past. Across his last two seasons at Newcastle, the former Real Sociedad star missed 13 games as a result of groin problems with his former manager Eddie Howe and his staff at Newcastle working diligently during their time together on the training pitch to make him as robust as possible.
Liverpool have not disclosed any further details on Isak’s current issue with no indication he is facing a spell out beyond this weekend.
Isak has one goal in eight appearances for his new side (Picture: Getty Images)
But if the issue currently sidelining the striker is a recurrence of an older problem, Isak could be facing a significantly longer period out of the team.
Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs which specialises in injury welfare and performance analytics, insists it is far too early to determine the severity of Isak’s issue.
But studies carried out with Uefa suggest a recurrence of older issues will generally see players sidelines for up to twice as along as those struck down with a fresh issue.
‘It is impossible for us right now to tell if it is the same injury or not,’ Smith told Metro. ‘What we know is if this is a first time injury and completely unrelated (to previous injuries) it is would likely result in a shorter time away from the game compared to if it is a recurrence of a previous injury.
Isak missed games against Brentford and Palace (Picture: EFA via Getty Images)
‘Research has shown it would likely be double the amount of time lost (if it is a recurrence), or close to double the amount of time lost.
‘Liverpool will have extreme clarity over whether it is a recurrence of the same injury or not. UEFA have published really good research into groin injuries in the last number of years. In September 2021 they showed how often it happens and how long players normally lose from those injuries and they suggested it is generally 15 to 28 days for a first time injury, looking at averages. A follow up piece of research showcased the length of time you miss for a recurring injury would be double.
‘Liverpool will absolutely have clarity over it and obviously that will have an impact on how they manage and treat that injury. Liverpool have taken a really smart and conservative approach to managing a new player like Isak who is coming into a new environment after no preseason.
‘We are in a scenario now where we do not know what it is yet. We haven’t seen how they are approaching the management of his return to play. So it is a bit too early to say.’
The Red Devils have won their last three games in a row and face a Forest side stuck in the relegation zone after an abysmal start to the season.
Arsenal are top of the table and take on a Burnley team full of confidence with Scott Parker’s men winning their last two Premier League matches.
There’s a London derby between Tottenham and Chelsea while Liverpool lock horns with Aston Villa and Manchester City play AFC Bournemouth.
Premier League legend Shearer has revealed his Gameweek 10 predictions for Metro – here’s what the Betfair ambassador had to say…
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United
Man Utd beat Brighton 4-2 last time out (Picture: Getty)
It was a poor result for Sean Dyche against Bournemouth, especially after doing so well in Europe. It will be a rocking atmosphere at Forest, as always when Man United come to town.
United are looking for results to keep the good run going and they’ve had a week off due to being knocked out of the Carabao Cup. I think Forest will get something out of the game, but I’m not sure they’ll win, so I’m going to say a draw.
I think it’s too early to say they’re the real deal and that United can finish in the top four or five. If they can continue this in a month’s time, I might change my mind, but let’s see what the next couple of weeks bring, and then we can judge whether they’re certainly improving.
Prediction – Draw
Burnley vs Arsenal
Arsenal defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 in their last top-flight match (Picture: Getty)
There’s hope for Burnley, because they’re at home, and they will make it tough. We saw what they did to Liverpool earlier on in the season. Liverpool had to leave it late at Turf Moor.
They will try and sit deep and frustrate them and hit them on the break. They got a great result last weekend, scoring in the last minute at Wolves.
We always said that that game was going to be key. So, for them it’s a bit of a free hit, I guess. Not many other people other than Burnley fans will be expecting anything out of it. But because of the run that Arsenal are on, because of how mean they are defensively, and the squad that they’ve got it won’t bother them a bit.
Whether they win from a set piece or a deflected shot, whatever it is. They played a completely new back four in the Carabao Cup and still got a clean sheet.
They’re flying in the Champions League, they’re flying in the league, the club is full of confidence, and they look like the real deal this year
Prediction – Arsenal win
Brighton v Leeds
Leeds got the result they wanted last time out. There’s not a lot between the teams in terms of points, but I do think Brighton at home will be expected to beat Leeds.
We’ve seen some unexpected results this season, but I would go for a home win on this one.
Prediction – Brighton win
Crystal Palace vs Brentford
Crystal Palace recently reached the Carabao Cup quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)
Both teams have had a brilliant few days, with Brentford winning last weekend and Palace getting into the quarter-finals. I would just edge with Palace because of the belief in the club after that big cup win. Even though they played a strong team at Anfield, I’m going to say Palace win.
It’s early doors for Brentford, there were one or two iffy results, but they seem to have turned things around, and there seems to be a bit of belief there now. It’s amazing what good results do throughout a club. They’ve had a great few days, but I guess it might end at Palace.
Prediction – Crystal Palace win
Fulham vs Wolves
You could classify this as a six-pointer. Fulham scraped through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, and they got done at Newcastle in the last minute. Wolves are struggling and it would worry me seeing them go away from home again. I would go for a Fulham home win here.
If Wolves get beaten this weekend, the answer would be yes, I think they’ll be too far gone. Form-wise, there’s nothing suggesting they can win, but you know what football’s like.
Prediction – Fulham win
Spurs vs Chelsea
Chelsea lost at home to Sunderland in their last Premier League game (Picture: Getty)
This game is always a tough one to call, always a bit of spice, always really interesting, and always chucks up some incidents. We’ll have to wait and see, but with it being a London derby, I’m going to say a score draw in this one, and a point each.
One thing Chelsea can’t afford is another red card. Losing a player in these games can make a huge difference, but it wouldn’t surprise me because there’s always a bit of needle in this game.
Prediction – Draw
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Liverpool have fallen down to seventh in the Premier League table (Picture: Getty)
You’ve got one team in terrible form, losing six of their last seven, and one team in really good form winning six of their last seven. There’s an argument for both sides. It really is a massive game, but particularly with the way Liverpool were defeated in midweek.
Liverpool can’t afford another defeat and if that does happen, then the alarm bells will really start to ring. I don’t know what to expect from Liverpool, there’s part of me that thinks it can’t continue this run, because they’ve got that much quality.
I don’t like what I’m seeing at Liverpool right now though – they’re not competing and they’re all over the place. I think Villa might take advantage of the pressure Liverpool are under.
When you gamble in midweek, the one thing you don’t want is to be battered. That filters into the football club and there’ll be an expectation for them to bounce back.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they did but I’m going to go for Villa because of the way football is, how it works sometimes, and the form that they’re in.
Prediction – Aston Villa win
West Ham vs Newcastle
I wouldn’t say comfortable for Newcastle, but I think with the form and the pressure that is at West Ham, there seems to be a real discord between fans, owners and players.
Newcastle have to go there and take advantage of that horrible situation. I would hope Newcastle go there and get three points.
At the minute, I do think West Ham will go down, because I don’t see anything that can tell me differently. With what I’ve seen up to now this season, they will go down if it doesn’t improve dramatically. I would really worry for West Ham fans.
Prediction – Newcastle win
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
Erling Haaland has scored 11 Premier League goals this season (Picture: Getty)
Bournemouth are so impressive – what a season they are having. They’ve sold players, including the goalkeeper, but the players that have come in have settled in straight away; Kroupi’s got two goals, and others are performing.
Going to Man City is a different animal, particularly with Erling Haaland back in the team. I expect him to play, as he left him out of the Carabao Cup, changing 10 players.
If there’s one team that’s going to punish City, and with the form that Bournemouth are in with Antoine Semenyo and other players, it might just be Bournemouth, but I find it very difficult to go against Manchester City at home with Erling Haaland in the team.
I do think Bournemouth are European contenders. They’re out of the Carabao Cup, and they’re not in Europe, so they can prepare properly. They’re not pushing their squad to the max
I think you look at them and Palace, and you know you’re going to be in for a really tough game playing those two. Bournemouth would fancy themselves, quietly, because of what we’ve seen up to now, then they are European contenders, yeah.
Champions League? No, but I don’t see any other reason why they won’t want to compete for 5th, 6th, or 7th.
Prediction – Manchester City win
Sunderland vs Everton
It was a poor result last weekend for Everton. Sunderland are at home, and it’s always going to be tough. They will make it tough.
Everton will be up against it, so I’ll go for a home win, because of Sunderland’s form.
Arsenal are four points clear at the top of the Premier League table (Picture: Getty/EPA)
All of the ingredients are there for Arsenal. Four points clear at the top, their rivals in varying states of disarray, a squad with two top class options for every position, an impregnable defence and a manager laser focused on success.
Surely, even the most pessimistic Arsenal fan would struggle to disagree that this has to be the year they finally end their wait for Premier League glory?
Given the ways in which Mikel Arteta’s most recent teams have construed to miss out on silverware, it would be foolish to take anything for granted particularly at this early juncture in the season.
The stars do, however appear to have aligned for this latest incarnation of Arteta’s Arsenal, a mean machine that that has conceded just three goals thus far and only one from open play.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, world-class midfielders in their own rights, have dovetailed superbly and formed an instant understanding that has helped underpin much of what has been good about Arsenal, particularly over the course of a flawless October.
Arsenal have conceded only three Premier League goals this season (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal are better at dealing with low blocks with Viktor Gyokeres (Picture: Getty)
In attack, Arsenal are yet to fully click into gear with recent wins over Fulham and Crystal Palace reduced to slugfests decided by set-pieces.
Bukayo Saka has endured a stop-start campaign, while Viktor Gyokeres hasn’t proven to be the oven-ready solution to Arsenal’s seemingly endless search to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Sweden international’s tireless work rate and bulldozing style have,at least offset some of the concerns over his less than prolific form. His ability to bundle beyond defenders and hold off challenges may look a little clumsy but it allows Arsenal to turn transitions into key chances.
That’s particularly vital against teams who employ low blocks that proved particularly hard to break down for an Arsenal side who last season drew 13 Premier League games.
Injuries has meant Arteta has been forced to rotate his squad more regularly than he may otherwise have done, but last night’s routine win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup emphasised the talent he has at his disposal, boosted by a trio of Hale End Acedemy gems.
It seems inevitable that Arsenal will win the league. However, there’s still six teams hoping to stop them…
Liverpool to bounce back?
Mohamed Salah has not been at his best so far this season (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool, boosted by their unprecedented summer spending spree, were the overwhelming favourites at the start of the season and that status was cemented after they won their opening five matches, including victory over Arsenal at Anfield.
Nobody could have foreseen a run of six defeats in seven matches in all competitions during which even the form of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk has been called into question.
Liverpool’s defensive issues are their biggest problem right now. They’re conceding too many goals from set-pieces and there’s an obvious vulnerability to long balls and counter attacks.
The Reds signed a number of new players this summer as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong came in, but Arne Slot has struggled to come up with a coherent system in which the new talent he has collected can thrive in the same starting XI.
The likes of Wirtz and Isak will surely come good in time but by the time they do Arsenal may well have sailed off into the distance.
Haaland to fire Man City to glory?
Erling Haaland has been in outrageous form for Man City (Picture: Getty)
City’s experience and mentality makes it impossible to rule them out either.
They’re not as strong or dominant as they once were, but we’re still talking about a club which has clinched four of the last five Premier League titles.
Erling Haaland has been in outrageous form this season, conjuring up 11 goals across nine top-flight matches. If anyone is going to smash through Arteta’s brick wall, surely it’s the Norwegian striker.
But City’s defence has been exposed when the team has transitioned from attack, particularly when the ball has been lost high up the pitch. Can Pep Guardiola lead his team to glory? It’s not ridiculous to think he can.
Bournemouth or Sunderland to do a Leicester?
AFC Bournemouth and Sunderland are flying so far this season (Picture: Getty)
Leicester City gave every Premier League team outside of the so-called ‘Big Six’ a reason to believe they can do the unthinkable when they won the Premier League title at odds of 5000-1 nine years ago.
If any teams are capable of matching what the Foxes achieved, it’s AFC Bournemouth or Sunderland, who incredibly sit second and fourth in the current table.
Bournemouth are flying under the management of Andoni Iraola with their high pressing and direct style. Could superstar winger Antoine Semenyo be their Riyad Mahrez? Will new gem Eli Junior Kroupi be their Jamie Vardy?
It’s early days but Bournemouth and Sunderland could start dreaming if they keep this form up. The only problem will be if they lose key players to injury, if huge bids arrive in January or if their managers leave mid-season.
What about Tottenham and Man Utd?
Tottenham currently sit third in the Premier League table (Picture: Getty)
It’s flying under the radar how good Tottenham have been since Thomas Frank came in as head coach. They are the joint-top scorers in the Premier League this season and have the joint-second best defensive record.
Under Frank, Spurs have become notably more compact and harder to break down. They are more willing to press high and mix that with a low block when needed. Their set-pieces have improved significantly.
Spurs’ biggest problem is that there’s an over-reliance on width and attacking the flanks. They lack creativity through the middle – but if they address that in January – Tottenham could be serious title challengers.
And what about Manchester United? You’d have been laughed at for suggesting they could win the title at the start of the season but they have been quietly surging up the table after an impressive run of form.
Look at the teams they’ve beaten in that period – champions Liverpool (at Anfield, by the way), high-flying Sunderland and Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.
Ruben Amorim’s attack is really starting to click after smart summer buys in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. It seems a little farfetched they could go all the way and land the Premier League title – but they have no European fixtures to worry about and have more rest time than their rivals.
Slot made 10 changes to his side following their 3-2 defeat away to Brentford last Saturday, while Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate and Hugo Ekitike were all rested ahead of Saturday’s Premier League game against Aston Villa.
Speaking after Liverpool’s sixth defeat in seven matches, Slot defended his decision to heavily rotate his team against Palace and claimed City and Chelsea do not suffer the same impact if they make changes to their side.
‘I’m not too sure that it is right what you are saying because when we played West Ham [in last season’s Carabao Cup third round] I don’t think [Mohamed] Salah was on the bench. But maybe I’m wrong, you are right, but I don’t think he was,’ Slot said.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘So a year ago, I did, we did, the same but maybe the line-up felt differently. I said this also for the television that before I went out I saw [Manchester] City’s line-up and I don’t think they had one starter from the weekend, but it felt as if you looked at their line-up that they played with 11 starters.
Arne Slot made 10 changes as Liverpool lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup (Getty)
‘Maybe it also gives a little bit of insight that everybody has always said how big of a squad we are having.
‘When we played Chelsea, I said they are missing eight but they can still bring Estevao in.
‘We are only missing four players at the moment and already we needed to start with four players under the age of 19 and after I made two substitutions we were on six.’
Slot also insisted he was unwilling to take a ‘risk’ on players such as Conor Bradley and believes he would have been criticised if Van Dijk or Konate had suffered an injury during the game if they were selected.
‘Last time we played Southampton here in the League Cup, Giovanni Leoni got injured, and we don’t have such a big squad as people might tell, because there was so much focus on the amount of money we spent [in the summer],’ said Slot.
‘People all of a sudden think we have 25 players available but we mainly have 20 players then we have four injuries.
Yeremy Pino sealed Crystal Palace’s victory at Anfield (AFP via Getty)
‘I only have one right full-back, Conor Bradley, as an example, and every time I had to play him twice in three days or three times in seven days [last season], it led to him… that I had to take him off with a hamstring injury or something else.
‘Are you willing to take that risk with such a big week coming up? Last time I played a player that wasn’t fully prepared, we thought he was prepared but it was the first time, Alexander Isak, he got injured.
‘Last time we played Southampton, Leoni was injured and it was a red card for Hugo Ekitike. Those are the things we can’t use with a big week coming up.
‘But there’s always a choice. What if I had played Virgil [van Dijk] and Ibou [Konate], for example, if one of them got injured people would have said, ‘what a stupid choice’.
‘And also with them [first-team players] it was very difficult for us, for our starters to beat Palace because it’s not the first time we lose against them.’
Scholes however does not name the pair in his top five midfielders, insisting he values a more ‘progressive’, controlling presence in the middle of the park.
The former United star names Paris Saint-Germain star Vitinha as a player most fitting that billing. While he has struggled to replicate last season’s form, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister is another singled out for praise.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘I get slagged off because I did a top five the other week and I don’t put people like Caicedo or Rice because I like a different type of midfielder,’ Scholes told The Overlap.
‘Vitihna at PSG is brilliant, he is amazing. I thought Mac Allister at Liverpool last year was brilliant, I know he hasn’t started that great this season.
Vitinha no1 in Scholes’ mind (Picture: Getty Images)
‘But I like that more controlling midfielder who can do a bit of everything not just defensive one who might score the odd goal. I like the more progressive type.’
Rice a first choice option for Arsenal and England (Picture: Getty Images)
Elliot Anderson has come into the fold but injuries and form mean we have not seen the best of Phil Foden or Cole Palmer this term.
With options in the middle of the park limited, Scholes fears England are still missing a player with elite ‘game intelligence’.
‘Rice isn’t my type of midfielder,’ he continued. ‘Elliot Anderson has been good. I don’t think we have that type pf controlling midfielder who can do everything. We haven’t got a Vitinha, Toni Kroos or Luka Modric. We don’t have that.
‘Probably a while ago Jack Wilshere was the closest to being that type but a load of injuries stopped him.
‘I don’t think we have the type who has that game intelligence for when to slow it down, when to fizz it in a centre forward, I don’t think it is there.’
