The latest Liverpool team news and predicted line-up for their game against Burnley - with updates on Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong.
Liverpool return to Premier League action when they travel to East Lancashire to face newly-promoted Burnley on Sunday – but Arne Slot may have a few selection headaches to reckon with as they prepare for the match at Turf Moor.
The league leaders are sweating on the availability of right-back Jeremie Frimpong while there are question marks over the fitness of £125m signing Alexander Isak after the Swede missed six weeks of pre-season preparation while he worked to force his move away from Newcastle United.
Below, we’ve got all the latest team news, injury updates and predicted line-up for Liverpool ahead of the weekend as they look to extend their 100% record.
Will Jeremie Frimpong be fit to play against Burnley?
Liverpool’s most significant injury issue over the opening weeks of the season has been a hamstring injury which ruled summer signing Frimpong out of the recent matches against Newcastle and Arsenal and which prevented him from playing for the Netherlands over the international break.
Frimpong returned to full training on Thursday, suggesting that he could be able to play at least some role in Sunday’s match, but Slot has yet to confirm whether the Dutchman is available or whether or not he might start. Conor Bradley is fully fit should a deputy be required, while midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai shone while filling in at right-back in the 1-0 win over Arsenal.
A potential injury to centre-back Ibrahima Konaté which saw him forced off against Arsenal, meanwhile, proved to be little more than cramp and the defender was able to start both of France’s recent matches. He should be fully fit this weekend.
Liverpool also welcomed long-term absentee Stefan Bajčetić back to training this week. The Spanish midfielder has been out of action since May with a serious hamstring issue of his own, and is unlikely to play against Burnley, but looks set to return in the near future – meaning that the champions are close to having a full strength squad available to them.
Will Alexander Isak play for Liverpool this weekend?
Much of the speculation ahead of the Burnley match has centred on the availability of striker Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool training for the very first time on Wednesday following his British record transfer on deadline day.
Isak was away with the Sweden squad over the international break but having missed much of pre-season, he only used very sparingly – he was rested for a 2-2 draw in Slovenia before playing around 20 minutes towards the end of a humbling 2-0 defeat to Kosovo.
The early indications are that while Isak should be ready to play some part, he is highly unlikely to start as he builds his way back to full match readiness. Hugo Ekitiké is likely to start as the central striker, while Cody Gakpo should play on the left flank.
Full Liverpool predicted line-up vs. Burnley: Alisson; Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konaté, Szoboszlai; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Gakpo, Wirtz, Salah; Ekitiké.
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