**Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has dropped a positive update regarding one Reds player ahead of this weekend’s trip to Tottenham in the Premier League.**
The champions take on Spurs on Saturday evening, with Slot admitting before the game that [he and Mohamed Salah now won’t be in contact](https://www.thisisanfield.com/2025/12/arne-slot-salah-afcon-no-distractions/) during the Africa Cup of Nations:
_“I said last week, actions speak louder than words. We moved on, he was in the squad and he was the first substitution I made. Now he’s at the AFCON, playing big games for himself and also for his country, so I think it’s fair to them that all the focus is, for him, over there._
_“But definitely also for us, because are going to play some very important games. There should not be any distractions from me saying anything about his time here at Liverpool, because as I said, we’ve moved on after the Leeds interview and he played against Brighton._
_“Now he’s there, so it’s fair for the country and for him and also for us to talk, for us, about Tottenham and other games, and for them to be fully focused on their tournament.”_
[Slot](https://www.thisisanfield.com/2025/12/liverpool-injury-update-spurs-gakpo-szoboszlai/) also provided some key injury news, not least with Cody Gakpo, delivering a two-word verdict by saying the Dutchman’s scan “looked promising”, suggesting he won’t be out for too much longer.
Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong is back in the squad for the Spurs game, while Dominik Szoboszlai is fit despite picking up a knock against Brighton last weekend. Joe Gomez is out, though, as are Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo.
**Liverpool need Gakpo to return in better form**
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With Salah away on AFCON duty, getting Gakpo back into the fold is crucial for Liverpool, as their attacking wide options are sorely lacking currently.
The 26-year-old’s form was frustrating before his injury, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a key figure who can contribute a lot upon his return.
Liverpool need him back to his best, in terms of end product, but he may struggle to force his way back into the team if Slot continues with the midfield diamond, as well as Florian Wirtz in something of a left-sided role.