Arne Slot has sounded a word of caution to Liverpool supporters hoping to see Alexander Isak return against Manchester City on Saturday.
The Reds’ record signing was back in training on Thursday after three months out with a broken leg.
However, while he suggested that Isak may be in the Liverpool squad which travels to face City in the FA Cup, Slot has admitted that the looming prospect of extra time at the Etihad Stadium could complicate things.
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Dominik Szoboszlai fouls Erling Haaland which resulted in a red card at the end of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City
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Extra-time may scupper Isak return
Liverpool are going to have to be careful with Isak to ensure he is does not overdo it when back in the team.
Thankfully, while speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Slot confirmed that the Reds will take it slow, with Isak definitely not starting against City.
“Definitely too fast to expect him in the starting line-up, he’s training with us yesterday for the first time and today for the second time after exactly 101 days!” the Dutchman said. “It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes but we will make sure we do the right thing in terms of building him up in minutes. It is a very good thing to have him available.”
Asked whether Isak would at least be able to feature on the bench in Manchester, Slot suggested that he and the Liverpool coaching staff must weigh up whether there could be an extra 30 minutes of Saturday’s cup clash.
Alexander Isak and Virgil van Dijk walk out ahead of a training session with Liverpool at the AXA Training Centre.
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“You can even be on the bench if you haven’t trained, but the question is, is he ready to play some minutes. That’s another question,” he said.
“It’s a difficult one because we don’t play a normal game, it could go to extra time, so that makes it even more complicated. If we think he can only play 10 minutes, bring him in 10 minutes before the end and then you go to extra time. Of course you can take him off again if we have enough players available, so maybe a few minutes, but let’s wait and see how it is with him today, how he feels about it himself. But it’s clear that it would not make any sense to start him after two training sessions.
“I think rehab did a great job,” Slot added. “If I look at him now compared to where he was before he got injured, I see a player that’s much stronger, physically in a much better place. But to go into 100 days off to the end phase of the Premier League and Champions League, what’s realistic to expect is difficult but I am really, really, really happy that I at least have at least a number nine available together with Hugo. That’s already a positive thing.”
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Alexander Isak pictured warming up ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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Slot confirms Alisson timeline
While there was finally some good news on Isak, Slot also confirmed supporters’ worst fears on Alisson. Sadly, the goalkeeper will play no part in the upcoming Champions League tie with PSG.
“He will not be part of the Paris Saint-Germain games as well, he will be out for a bit longer,” said the Liverpool head coach. “Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit again.”
Despite that blow, Slot did at least say that Jeremie Frimpong is looking fine after being taken off during the Netherlands’ match against Ecuador on Wednesday.
“He seems to be okay, trained with us yesterday fully and will train with us tomorrow again,” he said.
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