Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has provided the latest updates on the fitness of his key players ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash against Manchester City.
The Reds boss offered clarity on the status of record signing Alexander Isak, as well as Andy Robertson, Alisson Becker, and Jeremie Frimpong.
The £125 million striker has endured a challenging start to life at Anfield. Since arriving from Newcastle United, Isak has struggled to find his rhythm, largely due to missing pre-season training with the Magpies before completing his high-profile move.
This disruption has contributed to a slow start for the 26-year-old, who recently hobbled off during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League and has been sidelined for the last four fixtures.
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 cautioned that he would need time to regain full match sharpness.
“He will train for the first time today with the team again, after being three weeks out,” the Dutchman said. “I know that I said three weeks ago that his pre-season has ended, so now it’s time for us to see where he is.
But I have to come back to those words, because if you are three weeks only with the rehab, that doesn’t bring you back to the levels he was three weeks ago.”
Isak’s return to training comes after the Swedish striker was named in Graham Potter’s squad for the international break, signalling that he remains a player of importance at both club and international level.
However, Slot was clear that Isak would not immediately be ready to start against Manchester City, with the Dutch coach emphasising the need for patience as the striker reintegrates into Liverpool’s first-team setup.
Liverpool’s Scotland captain Andy Robertson has also been closely monitored after a demanding week that saw him feature in three matches in seven days, including starts against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and Real Madrid in the Champions League. Slot explained:
“Robbo started three games in seven days as he started against Palace. I had to take him off towards the end. I felt he was tired, but we will wait to see where he is today.
I was very pleased to see he was able to play almost 90 in his last game. Hard to play three games in seven days. It’s so helpful for every individual if the team plays at its best, which is what I think we did in the last few days. He has been calm on the ball and done 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 avoid injuries compounding during the season.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been sidelined with a hamstring issue since September 30, while right-back Jeremie Frimpong has also been unavailable. Slot offered a cautiously optimistic update:
“Alisson for sure, and I expect Jeremie back after the international break as well because we play from November until March! But I don’t expect Jeremie to be fully fit for Forest, but with Alisson we expect this.”
Centre-back Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined with a long-term injury and is unlikely to feature for the foreseeable future.
Slot’s updates suggest that Liverpool will still be without the full complement of defensive options when they head to the Etihad, but the return of Alisson for the Nottingham Forest clash later this month will bolster the squad significantly.
With a critical test at the Etihad awaiting, Liverpool’s injury situation remains a key talking point, but Slot’s latest comments provide some reassurance that the squad is gradually moving towards full strength.
