Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will be hoping the international break has helped reset his squad as they prepare to host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.
Momentum had started to build with back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, only for a heavy 3-0 defeat to Manchester City before the break to halt their progress.
That disappointing performance leaves Liverpool sitting eighth in the table heading into the weekend.
The Reds now face a run of winnable fixtures, starting with Forest’s visit to Anfield.
Alisson Becker is expected to return in goal after recovering from the injury he picked up in September’s Champions League clash with Galatasaray.
Barring any late setbacks, he is likely to start on Saturday.
However, Liverpool have been hit with fresh injury concerns.
Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz both suffered muscle injuries during the international break.
Arne Slot told reporters on Friday morning: “Alisson trained last week and this week, so he will be able to play tomorrow if things work out well today again.
“But we do have some issues after the international break unfortunately.
“Conor Bradley is unable to play [and] Florian Wirtz is unable to play. That’s far from ideal.”
Slot confirmed that Wirtz could be back shortly after the Forest match, but Bradley is set for a spell on the sidelines lasting at least a few weeks.
Bradley’s absence further limits Slot’s options at right-back, with Jeremie Frimpong still out after picking up an injury while playing for Eintracht Frankfurt last month.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez are among the players Slot mentioned as possible short-term solutions in the position.
“He [Szoboszlai] has played really well as a full-back and played really well as a midfielder,” the Dutchman said.
“Curtis Jones played there last season. “Joe Gomez can play there but Joe Gomez has played, I think if I’m correct, two times 90 minutes throughout the whole 2025 year.
“So, if we want to keep him available longer it’s maybe a bit of a risk to play him seven times in 22 days.
“He missed out on a training session yesterday, by the way, as well but we are expecting him to train today.”
Below is Liverpool’s predicted team to face Nottingham Forest:
Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
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