To balance the good news of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak being available for Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal against Manchester City, Arne Slot revealed that first-choice goalkeeper Alisson will not return to action until “towards the end of the season.”
The Brazilian shot-stopper missed Liverpool’s final game before the March international break with a hamstring problem of unspecified severity. Alisson himself hinted at a lengthy absence and now Slot has confirmed those worst fears.
“He will not be part of the Paris Saint-Germain games as well,” the Liverpool boss sighed. “He will be out for a bit longer. Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit again.”
This trajectory at least ensures that Alisson won’t miss the World Cup but comes as a massive blow to his club ahead of a crucial slate of fixtures. After that quarterfinal clash with City at the Etihad, Liverpool have both legs of their Champions League quarterfinal against Paris Saint-Germain to navigate before the first Merseyside derby at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Liverpool end the campaign with contests against their direct rivals for Champions League qualification. Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa are all still to be played. How many of those games will feature Alisson remains to be seen.
Yet, apart from this damaging development, there was plenty for Slot to celebrate in his injury roundup.
Liverpool’s Returning Stars for Huge Man City Clash
Mohamed Salah
Salah will take to the field this weekend for the first time since dropping the bombshell of his impending exit. The departing icon missed the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion with a muscular issue which he appears to have shaken off after being rested by Egypt during the international break.
Slot showed no concerns that Salah’s focus had strayed since news of his departure emerged. “Mo has always given everything for this club,” the Dutch boss insisted. “What has happened since he announced it is what he completely deserves.”
Alexander Isak
The most exciting returnee is also the one which inspired the most caution from Slot. “It will definitely be too fast to expect him in the starting lineup,” Liverpool’s manager bluntly declared when quizzed on Isak’s availability.
“He trained with us yesterday for the first time and today for the second time after exactly 101 days,” he continued. “So, it will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes. We will make sure we do the right thing in terms of building him up in minutes, but it’s a very good thing to have him on the training ground again. It would be even a better thing to have him available for games, that’s for sure.”
Slot was particularly wary of how extra time in Saturday’s cup tie could overload Isak, who appears to be ready for little more than a fleeting cameo. “Maybe a few minutes,” was as far as the coach would go, “but let’s wait and see how it is.”
Jeremie Frimpong
While Salah and Isak’s return had been touted by reports, confirmation of Jeremie Frimpong’s availability came as a welcome surprise.
The Netherlands right back limped off while on international duty in March, sparking fears of yet another crisis in a painfully problematic position for Slot this season. However, the former Feyenoord manager confirmed that Frimpong had returned to full training since that scary moment.
However, once again Slot urged caution, citing Frimpong’s inability to play the full 90 minutes of three games in the space of seven days—the type of schedule which Liverpool face over the coming weeks.
“Another interesting and difficult choice to make, how many minutes in which game,” Slot mused. “Because games come so fast and as we know, we don’t have eight right fullbacks available. Interesting challenge but I faced this challenge throughout the whole season almost, so I will find an answer.”
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak Returns Balanced by Huge Liverpool Injury Blow.
