Liverpool are handed a major selection boost as Arne Slot prepares his side for another FA Cup showdown with Manchester City. Three key names return to the fold at the AXA Training Centre, providing the Reds with a timely lift for the trip to the Etihad.
Jeremie Frimpong, Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak were all in training on Thursday at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the Cup tie, with the Reds looking to start the Salah farewell run in the perfect way possible.
Isak will be the biggest boost to the Anfield outfit, as he has missed the last 15 weeks with a broken leg in a 2-1 win over Tottenham in December.
The Swedish international scored in that game as he came on as a substitute at halftime.
Liverpool trio return
Jeremie Frimpong gave Liverpool a scare on Tuesday during the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Ecuador. The full-back was forced off after just 15 minutes after picking up a knock, raising immediate concerns over his availability for the weekend
Slot confirmed the fullback would receive a scan on Wednesday, but it seems he is ready to play a part this Saturday.
With Conor Bradley facing a lengthy time out after suffering an injury away at Arsenal in January, and Joe Gomez’s fitness issues, the Dutch manager will be pleased he can rely on Frimpong.
Salah also made a return to training after missing the Reds 2-1 defeat to Brighton a fortnight ago. Since his last game for the club, the legendary winger announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
Many Liverpool supporters feared he might miss some of the final games playing for the team from Merseyside, but it appears that will not be the case, as he looks to be the thorn in City’s side for a final time.
The last major return to training is Isak, who has had a stop-start journey since joining the club from Eddie Howe’s Newcastle after a dramatic summer saga.
The 26-year-old has made just 10 Premier League appearances since moving to Merseyside, where he’s grabbed himself two goals and an assist.
He’s had a week of celebration after his country qualified for this summer’s World Cup, as Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scored a late winner against Poland.
There is a real excitement around his return, as the Anfield faithful hope he can fire the team to silverware with his return, and he has a great chance to do that immediately with an impact on the weekend.
Federico Chiesa was also in training ahead of the tie, after withdrawing from the Italian national team’s squad. While the 28-year-old has only started one league game, he has played twice in the FA Cup this season, so a cameo from the bench could be expected.
Alisson is to remain out for a while longer, with no date for his possible return set yet as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Fellow South American teammate Alexis Mac Allister wasn’t involved in training, but that’s believed to be down to Argentina’s schedule, with them facing Zambia in the early hours on Wednesday.
A statement is required
Salah’s departure will close a chapter in the club’s history, for the records he’s broken and the memories he’s created.
The Egyptian has always stepped up to the plate when facing the Cityzens, with 21 goal contributions in 25 matches against Guardiola’s side.
This will be his final meeting against the Manchester outfit, and he would like to end it on a high with the Reds advancing to Wembley.
However, the man who was brought in to replace his goals in Isak can also play a major part. While it will take a while to become truly match fit, he has shown he can still be deadly in front of goal in his limited minutes this season.
Former City academy graduate Frimpong gets his first crack at them at one of their biggest rivals, after missing both league games with a hamstring injury.
Slot will be delighted that he has added quality back to his squad, and there is a must to deliver this season, as Saturday presents a perfect opportunity for Liverpool to make a statement and keep their season alive.
