The Reds will look to bounce back after a 2-0 loss at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League
Arne Slot took to the pre-game press conference ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Fulham to offer updates on Alisson Becker and Alexander Isak.
The Brazilian goalkeeper has missed the last three Liverpool games through injury, with the Sweden international making his return from injury in the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
Isak came off the bench in the closing stages of a game where Liverpool didn’t manage to record a single shot on target, with PSG securing a deserved 2-0 win.
Isak is set to step up his reintegration into the Liverpool matchday squad this weekend as the Reds prepare to host Fulham in a critical Premier League encounter.
The Sweden international’s return to domestic contention marks a significant turning point for Slot’s side as they enter the final stretch of the 2025/26 campaign.
Isak, who moved to Merseyside in a British-record £125 million deal last summer, has been a major absentee for the better part of four months after suffering a fractured leg during a December clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
While the striker is still building toward full match sharpness, his availability provides a timely boost for an attack that has struggled to convert dominance into goals in recent weeks.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot was candid about the need for patience regarding Isak’s return to the starting XI.
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Slot emphasised that while the striker’s quality is undisputed, the medical staff are wary of overextending him too soon.
“Alexander is available for us again. So, to have him back is really nice… It was only 15 minutes [midweek], but it’s good to have him back,” Slot remarked.
“Hopefully, we can progress his minutes, and we can grow his form as soon as possible, but last time, of course, it took him a while.”
Alisson injury update and potential rotation
Despite the optimism surrounding the forward line, Liverpool remain without their first-choice goalkeeper.
Arne Slot confirmed on Friday that Alisson Becker is still sidelined as he continues to recover from a persistent injury. While he has stepped up his individual training at the AXA Training Centre, he will not be included in the squad for the visit of Marco Silva’s side.
“No, we don’t get a player back yet… but Alisson is working hard to find his way back into the squad, so that’s really positive. He will not be in the squad this weekend,” Slot said.
Meanwhile, the Dutch tactician admitted that neither Jeremie Frimpong nor Joe Gomez might be ready to start for the second time this week.
‘Yesterday was a recovery day, so we need to see where a few of our players are,” he added. “I’ve said that a few of our players are not capable of playing another intense game three days later, so let’s see what the line-up brings.”
