Alexander Isak will start on the bench again for Liverpool when they welcome Fulham to Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool will be desperate to return to winning ways and end the three-game losing run when they host Fulham at Anfield on Saturday evening. Arne Slot has no new injury concerns to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Giovanni Leoni (knee), Alisson Becker (hamstring), Conor Bradley (knee), and Wataru Endo (ankle) remain the only absentees for the home side. Otherwise, Slot has a full-strength squad for the game against Fulham.
Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Slot discussed his squad’s recovery after playing two matches in five days. The Dutch tactician also provided an update on Alexander Isak as the Swedish striker continues to regain his sharpness after returning from a leg injury.
The Liverpool head coach said, “Yesterday was a recovery day and let’s see where a few of our players are, because I’m also not telling you for the first time that not all of our players are able and capable of playing three days later another intense game. Let’s see what the lineup brings this time.”
“It’s right that compared to the whole season this is the best period of time when it comes to players available But if I go away from here and I go into my office, I’m looking at my list, I’m seeing three defenders injured: a right full-back Conor Bradley, a centre-back with Giovanni Leoni and a player that can play at centre-back Wataru Endo. And [some] of the players I’m of course worried about again for tomorrow will be Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez.”
Speaking about Isak, the Liverpool boss said, “That Alex is available for us again is vital of course because I said many times over here that it was hard for us to convert the chances into goals and he’s been a goalscorer his whole life now. We did not get a chance against Paris but in all the other games we’ve had many chances.”
“So to have him back is really nice. It was only 15 minutes but it’s good to have him back. Hopefully we can progress those minutes and he can grow to his form as soon as possible. The last time of course it took him a while – which is completely normal – but now we are hoping that after the great rehab he already had, with the people we are having in rehab, that we can bring him faster to the level we want him to be at.”
Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue to deputise for Alisson Becker between the sticks, with Liverpool lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Fulham on Saturday. The backline will feature Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in the double pivot, with Alexis Mac Allister reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Hugo Ekitike will lead the line for the home side against Fulham, with Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz completing the numbers in the offensive unit. So, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak will be among the backup options on the bench for the home side.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Mamardashvilli; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike