Liverpool named a 20-man squad to face Marseille in the Champions League, and it heralded the return of Mohamed Salah, though Ibrahima Konate was notably missing.
Liverpool’s penultimate match in the first stage of the Champions League takes them to Marseille, where a point will be enough to secure a place in the knockouts, but more is needed to avoid the playoffs.
Arne Slot has been boosted by the return of Salah after his Africa Cup of Nations exploits concluded over the weekend, but he could be without up to four first-team regulars:
Liverpool Injury & Absentee List
Player Injury Type Status Expected Return
Mohamed Salah AFCON Available Marseille (A)
Ibrahima Konate Family Reasons Doubt B’mouth (A)
Alexander Isak Fibula Fracture Unavailable Late March
Conor Bradley Knee (Surgery) Unavailable Pre-season 2026
Giovanni Leoni ACL (Surgery) Unavailable Next season
Stefan Bajcetic Hamstring Rehab February
Jayden Danns Hamstring Rehab February
Liverpool did not succumb to any new injuries against Burnley but Konate remains in doubt for the fixture having missed training on Tuesday due to family reasons.
He is in another part of France and Slot refused to confirm or deny whether there was a possibility he could join the team ahead of kickoff.
“I will speak to him again tomorrow, but he did not travel with us,” Slot said. “I will leave it at that.”
It is unlikely he will be pushed to return and that will see Joe Gomez emerge as the best-suited replacement, which will herald only his second starting partnership with Virgil van Dijk this season.
Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined with long-term leg injuries, while it is still too soon for Jayden Danns or Stefan Bajcetic to have a role.
Liverpool’s 20-man squad includes only five defenders and a total of 17 outfield players, with three goalkeepers among the travelling party.
Salah, meanwhile, is fit to feature and Slot hinted at a starting role when he was pressed about any lingering issues with his winger.
“Let’s see for the lineup tomorrow if you still think there’s an issue,” he said.
Liverpool’s 20-man squad vs. Marseille
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Gomez, Frimpong, Kerkez, Robertson
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Endo, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha