Liverpool have a quick turnaround after the international break with an early trip to Man City in the FA Cup, but will Cody Gakpo start, and will Jeremie Frimpong be risked?
The big news of the week is that Alexander Isak has returned to full training for the first time since his serious leg injury in December, but he’s only fit enough for the bench.
Thankfully, Mo Salah is ready to return to the side after picking up an injury against Galatasaray, but there are more considerations for Arne Slot when it comes to his starting lineup.
Will he change the attack, keep the defence unchanged and are fresh legs needed in midfield? Let’s take a look at how the Reds could line up at the Etihad.
Liverpool team news vs. Man City: Alexander Isak back, no Alisson
Alexander Isak returned to training during the week and can play a “few minutes” at most off the bench after more than three months out.
Alisson will miss out again with a hamstring injury and has been ruled out for the trip to PSG, with a return late in the season anticipated. A big blow.
Mo Salah is fit to start after missing the last game before the international break.
Jeremie Frimpong is OK after his injury scare with the Netherlands, but Slot admitted he has a “difficult choice to make” over his minutes.
Liverpool remain without Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo.
Predicted Liverpool XI vs. Man City
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 14, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the FA Cup 4th Round match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With Alisson sidelined, Giorgi Mamardashvili will be tasked with playing a key role in the decisive part of the season and he could start behind an unchanged backline.
Although Slot conceded he has “another interesting and difficult choice to make” over Frimpong‘s level of involvement, he could look to start his compatriot with a pre-planned substitution in mind.
The midfield has typically picked itself in recent months, and it’s hard to look beyond Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai starting once again.
This would leave Salah to return to the right wing, Florian Wirtz to take up a role on the left and Hugo Ekitike to lead the line having had no after-effects of his dead leg:
Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Ekitike
There could be some tweaks to the abovementioned lineup, however, if Slot was to deem a start too much for either Frimpong or Mac Allister, who returned late from Argentina duty.
The former could be replaced by Szoboszlai at right-back, not that it is a popular move, and the latter could see Jones take his place after a fortnight off.
This shift would then see Gakpo retain his place on the left wing, with Wirtz moved more central in the No. 10 role to link the midfield and attack.
It would not be out of the realm of possibility for this to be what Slot turns to, especially with Gakpo in the lineup, but ideally, Szoboszlai is kept out of the defence:
Mamardashvili; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
There is no denying this fixture is a tough ask for a Liverpool side who have won only 43 percent of their away fixtures this season, while City have won 17 home FA Cup ties in a row.
The handful of injury boosts is timely, and Liverpool can only hope the absence of Alisson is not keenly felt.
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Slot has his favourites, and while he hinted on the eve of the match that he has to consider the intensity of the schedule, the importance of a win and a semi-final berth cannot be understated.