Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa near returns as Arne Slot provides latest team news before City trip
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has delivered a largely positive injury update ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final away to Manchester City.
The biggest boost for the Reds is the expected return of Mohamed Salah, who missed the defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break due to a muscle issue and did not link up with Egypt.
Providing an update on his condition, Slot said: “Close, very close.
“Another example of what makes him special because the moment he got injured there was a bit of a situation where they thought, ‘I don’t think he’s available for City.’ But Mo looked at me and said, ‘I think I will be available for City.’
“He just does so much for his body for such a long time that he recovers so fast. So, he will train with the team again tomorrow and if everything works well then he’s available to be with us at City.”
There was also encouraging news regarding Federico Chiesa, who had to withdraw from international duty with Italy but has since returned to training. However, Alisson Becker remains unavailable.
“Alisson will be out for a bit longer. Federico indeed came back from the national team, where he wasn’t able to play. But he trained with us today, so he will train with us tomorrow again and will be available for the game on the weekend.”
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Jeremie Frimpong will be assessed after being withdrawn during the Netherlands’ draw with Ecuador.
“Jeremie, the national team doctor of the Netherlands tells us that it was precautionary that they took him out. But he will have a scan later today to see.”
Alexander Isak nearing return after long absence
There was further positive news on Alexander Isak, who is closing in on a return after several months out.
“I think Alex is in a really good place because Sweden qualified for the World Cup yesterday evening and apart from that he’s going to train with the group again for the first time tomorrow.
“If you’ve worked so hard for three, four months or something like that and then to return to team training, that’s for everyone very nice. So Alex is, in that sense, in a good place.
“Of course it’s only his first session, after three or four months [out], with the team but it’s good to have him back because we all know who we signed and we’ve signed an incredible striker.
“So to have him again in a team that’s usually generating quite a lot of chances – and maybe not immediately from the first moment that he can start – but to have him back for the last two months is, I think, very helpful for us.”
With key players returning at a crucial stage of the season, Liverpool will head to the Etihad with renewed optimism as they look to secure a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.