Liverpool suffer major injury blow ahead of crunch Man Utd Premier League match

Liverpool will travel to Old Trafford on Sunday without a single recognised striker after Alexander Isak was ruled out through a groin problem picked up during training this week.

The Swedish forward's absence deals a significant blow to Arne Slot's preparations for the crucial Premier League encounter against Manchester United.

Isak, who arrived at Anfield in a British-record £130million deal from Newcastle last summer, is expected to undergo a scan over the weekend to assess how serious the injury is, according to The Sun.

The 26-year-old's setback compounds what has already been a frustrating debut campaign on Merseyside for the frontman.

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His first season at Liverpool has been plagued by fitness problems, with a broken leg sustained in December keeping him sidelined for an extended period.

Since returning from that serious injury, the Swedish international has managed only five appearances for his new club.

Across the entire Premier League campaign, Isak has been limited to just 13 starts and has found the net on only three occasions.

To make matters worse, Hugo Ekitike is unavailable for the remainder of the season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during Liverpool's Champions League elimination against Paris Saint-Germain last month.

The stakes could hardly be higher at Old Trafford, with both clubs battling for a place in next season's Champions League.

United will be seeking to complete a league double over their rivals following their 2-1 triumph at Anfield back in October.

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Slot's options are further depleted by Mohamed Salah's ongoing muscle problem, though the Egyptian winger is anticipated to feature again before the current campaign concludes.

The combination of injuries to all three attacking options represents a severe test of Liverpool's squad depth at a pivotal moment in their pursuit of a top-three finish.

Beyond the immediate injury concerns, Liverpool are also preparing for life without their talismanic forward Salah, who has confirmed he will depart when his contract expires this summer.

The 33-year-old revealed that a private dinner with former captain Steven Gerrard helped him reach his decision after nine years at the club.

Speaking to Gerrard for TNT Sports, Salah said: "I'm happy now.

"I'm glad that I'm leaving now from a big door, and this is also something you mentioned to me, just leaving on your terms."

He added: "It's time to go. I have a lot of options which are good options.

"But I feel like 'OK, you know what, this is the right thing to do now and I have peace with it."

United beat Liverpool 2-1 in the reverse fixture, with Harry Maguire scoring a dramatic late winner at Anfield.

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