**Liverpool manager Arne Slot has offered up a fresh update concerning the fitness status of his Anfield squad ahead of the clash against Manchester City this weekend.**
The two sides go head-to-head in their first meeting of the brand new season and a continuation of their enthralling battle at the very top of the Premier League table standing since Pep Guardiola arrived in English football back in 2016.
With the two sides having won all of the last eight Premier League titles – six for Manchester City, two for Liverpool – they will be aiming to keep the top-flight crown in the north-west despite the ongoing challenge from Arsenal.
Coming into the weekend’s clash, Manchester City and Liverpool sit second and third respectively behind the Gunners, who take on fourth-placed Sunderland away from home as the Premier League’s leading quartet could see wholesale change.
Ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Manchester City this weekend, manager Arne Slot has revealed that big-money summer signing Alexander Isak will return to training ahead of the Etihad Stadium clash, but is expected to remain a doubt for the contest.
“He will train for the first time today with the team again after being three weeks out,” Slot told reporters on Friday morning.
“I know that I said three weeks ago his pre-season has ended, so now it’s time to for us to see where he is but I have to come back to those words because if you’re three weeks only with the rehab, that doesn’t bring you back to the levels he was at three weeks ago,” he continued.
“Although our rehab team is doing an incredible job, but you cannot compare rehab with games of football or training sessions with the team as much as we try to replicate it, that is simply not possible. Again I have to say, give him some time.”
Slot’s comments come after Liverpool’s squad had a day off on Thursday before returning to training on Friday and Saturday, and the Anfield coach also said of Andy Robertson, “Let’s see where he is today,” after the Scotsman played three times in a week for the club.
Liverpool will remain without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson, who is expected to be fit for the club’s first game after the November international break, while summer right-back recruit Jeremie Frimpong will remain sidelined for slightly longer.
As for the situation at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola is likely to have a mostly fully-fit selection at his disposal with the exception of Mateo Kovacic – who is understood to be sidelined with a fresh ankle problem.
As for defensive midfield star Rodri, the Spaniard was kept out of the midweek Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund owing to some concern around his own fitness, leading to City taking the decision not to risk the player.
Nico Gonzalez has been an exemplary performer for the club of late, and Pep Guardiola is more likely to lean towards him as his start defensive midfielder against Liverpool, with central support from Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden.
Pep Guardiola is due to speak with the media ahead of the home Premier League clash with Liverpool on Friday afternoon, and will provide a more in-depth overview of his Manchester City squad status.