Jordan’s ‘karma’ jibe backfires as Isak suffers fractured fibula in Liverpool win at Spurs

Football’s got a habit of teaching us empathy the hard way. Liverpool’s Alexander Isak bagged the opener in a gritty 2-1 triumph at Tottenham, only to be clattered late by Micky van de Ven and forced off. The club have since confirmed a fractured fibula, and the Swede now faces a lengthy spell in the treatment room. For a player who arrived for a British-record £125m and has had a stop-start introduction at Anfield, it’s a brutal setback.

Jordan’s ‘karma’ take lands badly

Enter Simon Jordan, never shy of a headline. On TalkSport, the ex-Crystal Palace owner flirted with the idea of ‘karma’, suggesting Isak’s current plight mirrors summer behaviour he didn’t much care for. He referenced the forward’s push to leave Newcastle, claimed he hasn’t delivered much yet in red, and mused that the season could be a write-off. He wrapped it in caveats about not wishing injuries on anyone, but once you’ve floated the ‘what-goes-around-comes-around’ line, you’ve lit the fuse.

The context: Isak’s move and the injury

Isak forced the issue to get out of Newcastle ahead of 2025/26, accusing the club of breaking promises and missing Eddie Howe’s pre-season before landing at Anfield for mega money. Just two league goals have followed so far, and now this: a clean strike to put Liverpool ahead at Spurs, a late collision with Van de Ven, and a confirmed broken fibula. Months out, minimum. It’s a hammer blow for Arne Slot’s carefully laid plans.

Why moralising injuries is a bad look

Transfers are messy. Players agitate, clubs posture, and agents stir the pot. That’s the industry. But suggesting cosmic justice when a player suffers a leg break? That’s not analysis, it’s needless needle. You can critique the move, the fee, or the output without hinting some higher power is settling scores on a Saturday night in N17. Injuries are part of the game, not payback.

Liverpool’s Plan B without their record signing

Jordan pointed out that Liverpool aren’t short of options, namechecking Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike. Fair enough: Salah still bends matches to his will, Gakpo needs to sharpen up, and Ekitike will fancy minutes to stake his claim. Slot may tweak the geometry of the front line, lean on Salah’s end product, and ask Gakpo to attack the box more aggressively while Ekitike offers fresh legs from the bench. The fee isn’t ‘down the drain’; it’s just on ice until Isak returns.

For those poring over form lines and the best betting sites, Isak’s lay-off is a market-mover — it changes the calculus on Liverpool’s title tilt, goal tallies and even top-four jostling. Squad depth will be tested, and how Slot navigates the next eight to twelve weeks could define the campaign.

Fans bite back at Jordan

Supporters online have not held back. Many labelled the remarks tasteless and classless, arguing no professional deserves that sort of injury no matter the transfer saga. A few even called for disciplinary action from his employer. When your own preamble admits the line is mean-spirited, don’t be shocked when the audience agrees.

What’s next

Isak faces the long haul of rehab; Liverpool must recalibrate in his absence. The Swede’s time at Anfield has scarcely begun, and there’s plenty of runway left for him to justify that massive outlay. For now, though, the only ‘karma’ worth mentioning is the reality that football can giveth and taketh in the space of a single swing of a boot. Here’s hoping the recovery is smooth and the debate shifts back to what he does best — finishing chances, not fending off hot takes.