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Liverpool injury update ahead of the Premier League clash against Man City at the Etihad Stadium.
Arne Slot has provided a Liverpool injury update ahead of Sunday’s crunch trip to Manchester City.
The Reds and their modern-day rivals City have been the main protagonists in the Premier League over recent seasons. However, it is Arsenal that lead the way as they sit seven points above Liverpool and six ahead of City.
It means that either the Arne Slot’s Premier League champions or Pep Guardiola’s men will lose further ground if Arsenal beat Sunderland on Saturday evening.
Alexander Isak has missed Liverpool’s past four games because of a groin injury. The £125 million British record signing has been included in Sweden’s squad for the upcoming international break, however.
Isak arrived at Liverpool well short of match fitness after spending the majority of pre-season training alone at Newcastle United. It meant that the Reds were cautious with the striker and they had to build his fitness up. Following that period, Slot said that Isak could be judged fairly. Slot said: "Now he has had his five, six weeks of pre-season which is normal for every player, especially if you have been out for three or four months," Slot said at a press conference on Friday.
"Fitness-wise he is close to the level he should be and we can judge him in a fair way from now on. I know how this industry works, if he plays for Sweden twice and doesn’t score that’s not what you’re hoping for, of course.
"You are hoping if they go to the national team they score goals like Cody (Gakpo) did, like Virgil (van Dijk) did, like Dominik (Szoboszlai) did, like (Alexis) MacAllister, did but he didn’t. His pre-season has finished now. He has played a few games, 70, 80, 90 minutes, so let’s see where he is in the upcoming weeks."
However, after Isak’s latest setback, Slot admitted that the former Real Sociedad man now needs more time to find his best.
Speaking at his pre-City press conference, Slot said: "He will train for the first time today with the team again after three weeks out. I said three weeks ago that his pre-season has ended. It's time for us to see where he is at.
"I have to come back to those words because if you are three weeks in rehab, that doesn't bring you back to the levels you were three weeks ago. Although our team have done a great job, you can't compare rehab with games of football or training sessions with the team. That's simply not possible. Again, I've to say give him some time."
Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong (both hamstring) will remain absent against Man City along with long-term casualty Giovanni Leoni (ACL). Youngsters Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns (both hamstring) are also on the sidelines.
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