Liverpool's Isak out for Galatasaray Champions League tie

Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed on Tuesday that star striker Alexander Isak remains sidelined for the upcoming Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Galatasaray at Anfield, though the Swedish forward is making steady progress in his recovery from a fractured leg. The 26-year-old, who joined the club from Newcastle United in a £125 million transfer last summer, has been absent since suffering the injury in December during a 2-1 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Isak, who scored the opening goal shortly after entering as a substitute for the injured Conor Bradley, fractured his tibia in a challenge from Tottenham's Micky van de Ven just 15 minutes into his appearance. The injury required surgery and has kept him out of 20 matches across all competitions, limiting him to six Premier League starts and two goals in his debut season. Slot, speaking ahead of Wednesday's match, noted Isak's individual training sessions at the AXA Training Centre but emphasized the challenges of reintegration. "Alex is not available for tomorrow," Slot said. "But the fact that you see him on the pitch tells you he gets closer and closer to joining us again. He will not be...