Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided the latest updates on the fitness of his key players ahead of this weekend’s Premier League match against Manchester City.
The Reds boss offered clarity on the status of record signing Alexander Isak, as well as Andy Robertson, Alisson Becker and Jeremy Frimpong.
The £125m striker has had a challenging start to life at Anfield. Since joining from Newcastle United, Isak has struggled to find his rhythm, largely because he missed pre-season with the Magpies before completing his high-profile move.
The disruption has contributed to a slow start for the 26-year-old, who recently limped during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League and has been sidelined for the last four games.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Slot confirmed that Isak will return to first-team training ahead of the trip to Manchester City, but warned he needs time to regain full match sharpness.
“Today he is training with the team again for the first time, after being out for three weeks,” said the Dutchman. “I know I said three weeks ago that his preparation was over, so now it’s time to see where he stands.
But I have to come back to those words, because if you are only in rehab for three weeks, you will not get back to the level of three weeks ago.”
Isak’s return to training comes after the Swedish forward was named in Graham Potter’s squad for the international break, indicating he remains a player of importance at both club and international level.
Finally, it was clear that Isak would not be ready to start against Manchester City straight away, with the Dutch coach emphasizing the need for patience as the striker re-integrates into Liverpool’s first-team setup.
Liverpool’s Scottish captain Andy Robertson was also closely watched after a demanding week that saw him play three games in seven days, including starts against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and Real Madrid in the Champions League. Finally explained:
“Robbo started three games in seven days, just like he started against Palace. I had to take him off towards the end. I felt he was tired but we’ll see where he is today.”
I was very happy to see that he was able to play almost 90 in his last match. Difficult to play three games in seven days. It is very helpful for every individual if the team plays at its best, and that is what I think we have done in recent days. He was calm on the ball and did his job defensively.”
Slot’s comments underline the physical demands placed on Liverpool’s squad during a busy schedule, highlighting his careful rotation and management of key players to prevent injuries from aggravating during the season.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been sidelined since September 30 due to a hamstring problem, while right back Jeremie Frimpong is also unavailable. Finally offered a cautiously optimistic update:
“Alisson certainly, and I also expect Jeremy back after the international break, because we play from November to March! But I don’t expect Jeremy to be completely fit for Forest, but with Alisson we expect this.”
Central defender Giovanni Leoni is still sidelined due to a long-term injury and is unlikely to play in the near future.
Slot’s updates suggest Liverpool will still be without all defensive options when they head to the Etihad, but Alisson’s return for the match at Nottingham Forest later this month will significantly strengthen the squad.
With a critical test at the Etihad looming, Liverpool’s injury situation remains a major talking point, but Slot’s latest comments provide some reassurance that the squad is gradually moving towards full strength.
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