Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield in Saturday's early kick-off in the Premier League, and both teams having injury issues to contend with
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah applauds the fans as he is substituted during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah is a major doubt for Liverpool vs Chelsea. (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.)
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Mohamed Salah could be among as many as 14 players missing for either Liverpool or Chelsea in their Premier League clash.
Ahead of Saturday's game – a 12.30pm kick-off at Anfield – Arne Slot has been handed a double injury boost with Alexander Isak and Giorgi Mamardashvili expected to be available. Isak missed the clash against Manchester United last weekend with a knock, while Mamardashvili has recovered from a leg wound suffered against Everton.
Liverpool go into the match looking to secure their place in the Champions League positions. The Reds are currently in fourth place, six points ahead of Bournemouth in sixth position. The Premier League’s UEFA ranking means that the top five will play in UEFA’s top competition for the second year in a row.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are down in ninth place and are fighting to play European football next season. They are three points adrift of Brentford in seventh place.
Both Liverpool and Chelsea have fairly long injury lists ahead of the meeting.
Here’s a look at the players who could miss the game for both sides.
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Liverpool
There is doubt about Mohamed Salah's availability, who is yet to return to training. It’s a similar situation with Alisson Becker, with both closing in on a return.
“Alisson not yet, doesn’t train with us yet but very close to,“ Slot said. “Mo [has] also not trained with us yet but is also, like Ali, getting very, very, very close to training with us.”
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Longer-term absentees Hugo Ekitike (achilles), Wataru Endo (foot), Giovanni Leoni (knee), Stefan Bejcetic, Jayden Danns and Conor Bradley (knee), will all be forced to miss the match through injury.
Chelsea
Chelsea also have a growing injury list. Both goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and winger Jesse Derry suffered head injuries in the Blues’ defeat against Nottingham Forest. Concussion protocols mean that neither will be available vs Liverpool.
Jesse Derry is taken off the field via a stretcher after a head injury during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's Jesse Darry suffered a head injury vs Nottingham Forest. (Image: John Walton/PA Wire.)
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It’s in wide areas where availability may be an issue for interim manager Calum McFarlane. “Pedro Neto and [Alejandro] Garnacho are both carrying knocks, and it’s unlikely that they will be available,” McFarlane said.
Fellow winger Estevao has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury. Jamie Gittens has not featured since January due to injury.