A hopeful update on Alexander Isak has been offered by his national manager, while a 23-man Liverpool squad trained ahead of Brighton‘s visit in the FA Cup.
Graham Potter hopeful of Alexander Isak playing for Sweden in March
Isak sustained a nasty leg break at Tottenham just before Christmas and has been sidelined since, with a return only anticipated in late March/early April.
Updates on his recovery have been sparse, but after Sweden’s Nations League draw on Thursday, manager Graham Potter spoke of the “chance” Isak has of featuring in the next international break.
“I hope they (Isak and Dejan Kulusevski) can play, but these are big injuries…It’s tough to come back from injuries like that by March, but there’s a chance,” Potter said, via Fotboll Direkt.
“Yes, I have spoken to both of them. They are on their way back and are optimistic. They are working very hard at home in the club team in an attempt to play with us in March.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 20, 2025: Liverpool's substitute Alexander Isak during the pre-match warm-up before the FA Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Sweden have an all-important World Cup semi-final playoff against Ukraine on March 26, and will want their talisman available to them, with Potter’s words offering some hope.
The international break gets underway from March 23, and if the striker wants to play an important role in guiding his country to the World Cup, he will need to mark his Liverpool return first.
Whether that will be the case remains to be seen, but he has taken a step in his recovery with indoor ball work at the AXA – small steps but necessary ones. His comeback can’t come soon enough!
Liverpool FC News: Wataru Endo injury, Yan Diomande interest & 23-man squad trains
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, December 8, 2025: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
• Endo is still undergoing assessment after his nasty ankle injury, which Slot conceded would keep him out for a long time – and Joe Gomez‘s World Cup comments weren’t encouraging either
• Liverpool are interested in RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who has admitted he wants to play for the club – the German club are claimed to want £87.2m though! Pricey!
• Slot has admitted to a sleepless night over his lineup for Brighton‘s visit on Saturday as he considers rotating or naming a strong XI – you’d expect a mix of the two, surely
• A 23-man squad trained at a wet and windy AXA (the sun doesn’t exist in the UK!) ahead of Brighton‘s visit, with three youngsters included in the session – we might see one of them on the bench
Liverpool’s training squad pre-Brighton
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Nallo, Robertson, Kerkez, Ramsay, Ewing
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Nyoni
Forwards: Gakpo, Ekitike, Salah, Wirtz, Chiesa, Ngumoha, Morrison
Liverpool’s strike options vs. Brighton
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring the fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Hugo Ekitike has been shouldering the workload in attack in the absence of Alexander Isak, and Sam Millne looked at the dilemma of resting or pushing the Frenchman further:
If the Champions League final were tomorrow, Ekitike would be starting, there is no doubt about it.
However, the young forward has clearly been tiring in games and it would be a big ask on his fitness that he starts every single match remaining.
With a battle for Champions League qualification and the trophy itself still on the cards, the FA Cup would have been eyed as a good time to rest him.
Ekitike has already played 2,213 minutes this season. If Liverpool were to progress past Brighton and the Champions League round of 16, he would be on course to play more than the 3,664 minutes he managed last season.
Injuries and a lack of squad depth up front make it very difficult for Slot to rest the Frenchman against Brighton, though, as he wants to go deep into the competition this year.
Football News: Thomas Frank replacement and Rodri charged for referee comments
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - Friday, August 11, 2023: Manchester City's goal-scorer Rodrigo Hernández Cascante 'Rodri' celebrates after the FA Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester City FC at Turf Moor. Man City won 3-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
• After sacking Thomas Frank, Tottenham have reached a verbal agreement with former Juventus manager Igor Tudor to take over until the end of the season. That is a risky move, they do know they’re only five points above relegation, right?! (David Ornstein, The Athletic)
• Rodri has been charged with the FA for misconduct after he accused a referee of not being “neutral” in Man City‘s draw at Tottenham – ironic considering that handball that went unpunished!
• Northern Ireland have a huge World Cup qualifier in March, but their manager Michael O’Neill has also taken charge of Blackburn – he’ll be doing both jobs, don’t expect everyone will be pleased by that…
Liverpool FC: On this day
Matt McQueen was appointed Liverpool manager on February 13, 1923.
Initially an interim coach, he became permanent boss and retained the league title with Liverpool that season.
Despite losing a leg in a car accident soon after, he continued to manage Liverpool until February 1928, taking charge of 229 games in total.
McQueen, along with his brother, had originally come to Liverpool during the club’s first-ever campaign and played for eight years. A man who played in every position, including goalkeeper, he was one of the club’s first greats.