Liverpool will be without at least seven players for the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday, though they are boosted by the return of Ryan Gravenberch after three games out.
Arne Slot took the decision to rest the majority of his key players in midweek and will hope to benefit on the return to Premier League action this weekend.
The Reds are not without their ongoing issues, however, with seven players set to miss the clash with Villa – which comes on the back of six losses in their last seven games.
Here’s who is out and who will return vs. Villa:
• Ryan Gravenberch (ankle) – available
• Alexander Isak (groin) – out
• Alisson (hamstring) – out
• Curtis Jones (groin) – out
• Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) – out
• Giovanni Leoni (ACL) – out
• Stefan Bajcetic (hamstring) – out
• Jayden Danns (hamstring) – out
In his pre-match press conference, Slot confirmed that Gravenberch had returned to full training following an ankle injury picked up in the 2-1 loss to Man United.
The head coach however added that he was “99.9 percent sure” neither Isak or Jones would be fit for involvement in the 8pm kickoff.
They remain sidelined along with long-term absentees Alisson, Frimpong, Leoni, Bajcetic and Danns – though Liverpool’s No. 1 has stepped up his recovery work this week.
Slot will make almost wholesale changes after fielding a second-string side in the 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, October 29, 2025: Liverpool's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili sat in the stand before the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He explained that he had left Giorgi Mamardashvili, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike out of that tie to avoid risking injury.
“We still have more than enough good players available to play the game on Saturday, to play the game on Tuesday and to play the game on Sunday,” he told reporters on Friday, with Real Madrid and Man City to come next week.
“But I have to take care of a few of them and that’s why I made the decision not to play seven or eight players two days ago.”
One of Andy Robertson or Milos Kerkez will be retained, with the vice-captain more likely to start with his minutes managed in midweek.
Liverpool’s available squad vs. Aston Villa
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, October 21, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Goalkeepers: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Pecsi, Misciur
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Bradley, Robertson, Kerkez, Ramsay
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Mac Allister, Endo, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha