Cody Gakpo will return to the Liverpool starting lineup when they take on Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.
Liverpool will aim to continue the recent winning run when they lock horns with Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday evening. Arne Slot has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Alexander Isak has resumed training this week after recovering from a groin injury. The Swedish international will be in contention to take on Manchester City this weekend, although he will not be fit enough to feature from the get-go.
However, Alisson Becker (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (knee), and Jeremie Frimpong (thigh) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Slot provided a fitness update on Isak.
The Liverpool manager said, “I know that I said three weeks ago that his pre-season has ended so now it’s time for us to see where he is. But I have to come back to those words. Because if you are three weeks only with the rehab, that doesn’t bring you back to the levels he was three weeks ago. 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’s simply not possible. So, again I have to say, give him some time.”
Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue to deputise for Alisson Becker between the sticks, with Liverpool lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him against Manchester City on Sunday. The backline will feature Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Andrew Robertson, with Milos Kerkez missing out again.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai, with the trio forging a solid partnership in the middle of the park. The only change to the starting lineup will see Cody Gakpo replacing Florian Wirtz, with the Dutch attacker joining Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah in the final third. So, Isak and Wirtz will be backup options on the bench.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Mamardashvilli, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo