Injuries have always played a big part in football; whether through impact or fatigue, injuries have controlled the fate of many talented players.
Notably, Neymar and Eden Hazard, considered two of the best players in world football, had their career’s full potential taken away from them due to recurring injuries.
The increasing number of games has not helped with this; players have been running themselves into the ground playing 60+ games every season. New tournaments have been introduced between the Euros and the World Cup, taking place in the summers. Competitions like the Club World Cup are also being played in what should be the players’ off-season, to recover from the gruelling intensity of professional football.
One of the players affected by injuries is the Swedish striker Alexander Isak.
Alexander Isak was one of the best players in the Premier League last season, scoring 23 goals and assisting 6 times for Newcastle United in the league. His heroics earned him a move to Liverpool, a move that would break all British transfer records.
After a summer full of transfer controversies, Alexander Isak forced his move to Liverpool on deadline day for £125 million. But since his arrival, Isak has not lived up to the hype and expectations of a record fee.
He has faced an injury-ridden season. Initially, being out due to a lack of match fitness, he picked up a groin injury soon after he started playing for Liverpool. After being sidelined till November, Isak picked up another injury in December following a challenge by Tottenham Hotspur‘s Van De Ven.
Isak suffered a fractured fibula, along with some damage to his ankle, requiring urgent surgery.
The striker returned in April, but after making a few appearances, he picked up another groin injury, ruling him out for the game against Manchester United.
This was not the end of Isak’s injury concerns this season, when fans suspected something was wrong with his knee in recent training images.
Alexander Isak’s right knee. 😳 pic.twitter.com/XEezTSe0xn
— EPL Bible (@EPLBible) May 9, 2026
The picture shows Alexander Isak playing a pass in Liverpool training. But fans focused on something else entirely, his knee.
In the picture, his knee looks abnormal, popping out much more than it ideally should. This sent the fans into widespread panic, concerned that their record signing has what looks to be a permanent deformity in his knee. This would be a major concern for someone like Isak, who is reliant on his pace and ability to turn quickly to get in front of goal.
Bro is gone, can't play very long with that metal bone support protrution
— Colyns (@Ehys__) May 10, 2026
No way is gonna be able to run with this, let him turn into a van nistelrooy type of poacher that's my best advice
— Mario Johnmark (@MarioJohnmark) May 10, 2026
This could have happened due to his recent fibula surgery. If something went wrong during recovery, it could have caused the bone to heal differently, causing a protrusion of the knee.
It could also be an irregular movement of surrounding structures, causing the protrusion.
However, some fans had different opinions; they questioned the camera angle and the angle of the knee, which could be adding an illusion.
One also pointed out that a skinnier elite athlete’s knee usually does look like this, especially in this motion.
Are you sure its not bad camera angle?
— Prodigy (@diovu22) May 9, 2026
Some of you don’t know what skinny but athletic people knees look like. Thats normal.
— Linus (@linox_mulla) May 10, 2026
However, this is only a single picture from a training session; multiple other pictures were also posted of Isak in training, after his recent injury, in which Isak’s knee looks completely normal.
The reaction from Liverpool fans is understandable, but there have been no reports or communication from the club in relation to the knee of Alexander Isak as of yet.
While the initial photo does show some abnormality in the knee, other photos show his knees looking completely fine; nothing can be said about it until confirmed by the club or the player himself.
REFERENCES:
Alexander Isak – Detailed stats. (n.d.). Transfermarkt. https://www.transfermarkt.co.in/alexander-isak/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/349066/saison/2024
Fc, L. (2026, April 13). Training photos: Liverpool prepare for PSG second leg. Liverpool FC. https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/training-photos-liverpool-prepare-psg-second-leg
Liverpool FC. (2026, April 2). Inside Training: Isak Returns Ahead of FA Cup | Man City vs Liverpool [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqM0B0M2KZ8
Lusby, J. (2025, December 22). Alexander Isak undergoes surgery: Liverpool confirm no timescale on return. This Is Anfield. https://www.thisisanfield.com/2025/12/alexander-isak-surgery-injury-return-update/
Wikipedia contributors. (2026, May 9). Alexander Isak. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Isak
Wilczyński, B., Zorena, K., & Ślęzak, D. (2020). Dynamic Knee Valgus in Single-Leg Movement Tasks. Potentially Modifiable Factors and Exercise Training Options. A Literature Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(21), 8208. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218208



