There’s an old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this instance, one image hinted at 125 million reasons for concern.

Alexander Isak had managed to net only his second Premier League goal following his £125 million transfer from Newcastle. But the celebration quickly turned to dismay as the Swedish striker crumpled to the ground, clutching his leg in visible discomfort.

The defining moment came when he lifted his jersey over his face, a gesture that masked his pain and disappointment.

Should this injury prove as severe as his expression and Liverpool’s apprehensions suggest, it could significantly hinder his efforts to justify that hefty price tag.

On Sunday evening, the atmosphere was one of sincere anxiety regarding the potential seriousness of his lower-leg injury. Since Isak’s arrival on Merseyside, he has yet to reach full fitness, amplifying the setback’s impact. Concerns loom over a possible extended absence, with upcoming scans expected to unveil more about his condition.

Alexander Isak can’t catch a break at Anfield, suffering injury after just his second league goal

The British record signing fell in anguish after scoring, caught by Spurs star Micky van de Ven

Despite the injury, Isak’s 55th-minute strike gave a glimpse or reminder of what he can do

It puts a bitter taste in the mouth when talking about the win at Tottenham — it was deserved despite several frailties with the team still present — and talk over Christmas dinners will now be about when the supposed new main man Isak will be seen again.

What may hurt the most for fans is that, seconds before going down in apparent agony, he finally showed exactly why he was worth breaking the bank for.

In his first nearly four months as a Reds player, he has not been good enough. ‘We have signed him for six years, not six months’ is Arne Slot’s way of looking at it and that, of course, is absolutely correct. But at that price and when team form has been shoddy, patience is in short supply.

His 55th-minute strike, though, gave a glimpse or reminder of what he can do. When will we next see that? And how crucial is it now that Liverpool delve back into their pockets in January?

Antoine Semenyo is the man on everyone’s lips, it seems, and the sought-after £65m-rated Bournemouth man could be just the tonic should the Anfield top brass find some spare change. Easier said than done, mind, but the Isak injury might jolt them into action.

Wirtz class arrives in time for Christmas

Florian Wirtz picked Isak out with a clever disguised pass and defenders stood no chance. Wirtz and Isak, all £241m of that duo, combined to lethal effect. When the pair signed in the summer, fans would have expected to see that week in, week out.

The fact they had to wait until five days before Christmas for Wirtz to assist Isak in the Premier League would have shocked many but it is better late than never, as they say.

But regardless of that, Wirtz is finally showing why he was signed to so much fanfare. OK, let’s not go over the top, there are still several levels for the German to climb before he reaches the heights he hit at Bayer Leverkusen.

Florian Wirtz’s class shone through in the 2-1 win, marking one of his best displays at Liverpool

He is, though, on the right trajectory — picking up the ball in little pockets of space, pulling defenders into places they would rather not be with clever runs and finding his team-mates with punchy passes.

Now all he needs is that first goal for the club…

Forgotten Frimpong offers something new

Jeremie Frimpong, like Isak, was substituted on and then later taken off with an injury but his problem is a busted lip – why did the referee not stop the game? – rather than anything that will cause any lasting damage.

The Dutch full back signed to much acclaim in late May, trailing the path from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool before his good mate Wirtz followed a month or so later.

Speaking to anyone who knew Frimpong well at the time spoke of a player who would change the whole dynamic of Arne Slot’s team with his energetic and creative style up and down that right flank.

But we have barely seen him. He has suffered two hamstring injuries and the most recent one saw him ruled out for the best part of two months with the Dutchman finally back today, as Daily Mail Sport revealed would happen a week ago.

Frimpong, 25, is a unique full back. Across his last two seasons in Germany, he scored 19 goals and assisted 24. Those are astonishing numbers that we should not underestimate. He registered one for Liverpool here with a clever ball into Hugo Ekitike.

It was not a perfect performance and some moments can be filed under ‘rustiness’ after a couple of months on the sidelines but Frimpong showed Slot that he can offer something that others do not.

Jeremie Frimpong offers something new on the right flank after coming back from injury

Goal-scoring is the most valuable currency for strikers, and Hugo Ekitike has shown why

At this juncture, it is worth pointing out fellow right back Conor Bradley put in a solid defensive performance in the first half before going off injured. Both Frimpong and his Northern Irish colleague are good right backs with different skill sets.

The main thing now is getting them both fit.

Ekitike shows why goals are more valuable than touches

Ekitike barely had a sniff for the whole first half and was not half as influential as he has been in recent weeks. 

But he scored and his tally now stands at five goals across the last three league games.

It shows that although he is a No 9 who does everything – link-up play, off-the-ball running, clever passes, drifting out wide – he can put in a performance similar to one of his inspirations Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian is oft-criticised for ghosting through games and not really influencing proceedings. 

It is all forgotten about when the Manchester City machine finds the back of the net to win his side the game, though.

Similar can be true of Ekitike, who said earlier this season: ‘If I can add a little bit in my game it would be from his (Haaland’s) game. He’s able to do things without touching the ball much during the game, and it’s really impressive.’

Ekitike is an all-round forward but it always helps when you know where the goal is, too. His headed finish here was a right-place-at-the-right-time, typical poachers’ goal.