Liverpool could welcome back several first-team players when club football resumes after the international break, but Arne Slot still faces issues ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City. Hugo Ekitike appears to have fully recovered from a dead leg that forced him off early in the Reds’ loss to Brighton on March 21. Having played in both of France’s recent international friendlies, he started and scored in the former.
Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker, both of whom missed the Brighton match, are among those pushing for a prompt return. However, Alisson has confirmed he will be out for a while, posting on Instagram: “Unfortunately, I’ll be out of action for a while. Already working hard to be back stronger.” Giorgi Mamardashvili is likely to continue in goal.
Jeremie Frimpong suffered another apparent injury setback while on international duty for the Netherlands. The full-back was substituted after less than 15 minutes in a friendly against Ecuador. Dutch manager Ronald Koeman confirmed he “had to substitute” Frimpong due to an injury “blow”. No further updates have been provided.
Alexander Isak is nearing a return after four months out with a broken leg sustained against Tottenham in December. He has been back in training for a few weeks, though he was not involved in Sweden’s matches. His return could provide a significant boost for Liverpool’s attacking options.
