Arne Slot has provided a timely injury update ahead of Liverpool’s crucial clash with Chelsea, offering hope that key players could return to action. The Reds are set to welcome back Alexander Isak and Giorgi Mamardashvili, giving Slot’s squad a much-needed boost after a challenging period.
Isak, who scored in his last appearance against Crystal Palace, has returned to training and could feature this weekend. “Alex trained with us again, only yesterday for the first time so that’s a positive,” Slot confirmed. “Yesterday he did parts of it, so hopefully he can do parts – or everything – today and let’s then see how much we’re going to use him tomorrow.”
Mamardashvili, sidelined with a deep knee cut sustained during the Merseyside derby win over Everton on 19 April, is also making progress. “Giorgi will train with us today for the first time so let’s see how he’s going to react,” Slot added.
However, it’s not all good news for Liverpool fans. First-choice goalkeeper Alisson remains unavailable, having not played since March’s 4-0 victory over Galatasaray, while Mohamed Salah is also still sidelined. “Alisson not yet, doesn’t train with us yet but very close to,” Slot explained. “Mo [has] also not trained with us yet but is also, like Ali, getting very, very, very close to training with us.”
With Salah’s Liverpool career winding down—he has a maximum of two more games, away at Aston Villa next Friday and then at home to Brentford on 24 May—every moment counts. Florian Wirtz, who missed training due to illness on Wednesday, is expected to be available, while third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who started the last two games after coming off the bench at Hill Dickinson Stadium, is set to return to the bench.
Despite these positives, Liverpool will still be without Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo. Slot is cautiously optimistic about Bradley’s return, noting the unpredictability of rehabilitation. “I think – I don’t think, this is what they tell me – in the rehab it’s always really important in certain steps if they go well or don’t go well. It’s really difficult in the stage where he’s in now to predict exactly when he will be back; that will be by margins. He’s still inside, he works really hard to make the rig.”
As Liverpool gear up for a pivotal match, fans will be hoping the returning stars can make the difference and keep their title hopes alive.