Alexander Isak picked up a knock for Liverpool in midweek and may be a doubt for this weekend
Alexander Isak picked up a knock for Liverpool in midweek and may be a doubt for this weekend
Alexander Isak is an injury doubt for Liverpool's visit of Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. But Arne Slot was able to deliver a more positive update on Federico Chiesa, who is expected to return to the squad this weekend.
started Tuesday night's, playing nearly 70 minutes in Italy before being withdrawn for , who won the late penalty that was converted by .
missed the trip to his homeland through illness but will train today (Friday) ahead of a comeback at tomorrow afternoon. But the £125m British transfer record signing will be assessed when the players reconvene at the AXA Training Centre, .
Isak started just his second game with fellow striker and summer signing, the £79m in midweek, and the head coach said: "What we all saw, which is completely normal, is the more they play, the more they will adapt to each other and the better they will cooperate.
"I think it is fair to say, the other two No.9s on the pitch for Inter, Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, were more used to playing with each other. But I also saw promising things from the both of them.
"It's the second time they have played together, for obvious reasons, match fitness, and I think we will see more of this in the future of them playing together.
"But Alex also got a knock in the first half, so let's see how he has recovered from that and if he is able to start tomorrow. And if he is able, if I make the decision to start them again, or I do it in a different way."
Slot also confirmed that forward has suffered a muscle injury and midfielder is struggling with an ankle problem.
"Federico is not ill anymore," Slot said. "He trained yesterday and he trained today again, so I assume he's ready to be in the squad tomorrow again. It's going to be weeks [out]. With Cody it's a muscle injury and Wata is an ankle injury.
"I think it is helpful that in the weeks ahead we don't play as many games until now. I wonder if there have been more teams who have played three games in seven days than us this season?
"We've had to do it three times already this season. So, what can I say about this? I am almost happy we are out of the .
"If we had to play with [just] 13 outfield players with any experience, because we have more available of course but not many with Premier League experience, and we had to go Arsenal away on Tuesday again after so many games played.
"Maybe some can understand a little bit better why I made this line up against Crystal Palace (for 3-0 home defeat). It wasn't good for me but I did this for the team. Losing a game of football is never a good idea and that is what happened when we were not in our best run of form.
"But sometimes players need rest, Dom Szobszlai, Ibou Konate, , Ryan Gravenberch; they have played so many minutes because others weren't available.
"So it is good for them that we go to a run where there is one week rest in between games and players will come back from injuries and there is more to choose from as well."
is suspended against Brighton while fellow right-back is injured along with centre-back .