Liverpool travel to Manchester United this weekend as Arne Slot looks to deny the Red Devils' chances of a league double in the fight for Champions League
Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker will miss Sunday's showdown with Manchester United. The Reds saw their injury list increase as a result of the Egyptian was forced off against Crystal Palace sparking fears that his season and Anfield career was over.
However, the Premier League champions confirmed this week that the 33-year-old's issue was only minor and will see him return for the final games of the season. Liverpool have four matches remaining, starting with a trip to their fierce rivals who are three points ahead in the race for Champions League qualification.
The Reds will still be without Alisson after he suffered another injury setback which has forced him to miss the last six matches. Giorgi Mamardashvili suffered a gash on his leg during the Merseyside derby, forcing third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to make his Premier League debut for Liverpool.
Slot said: "As we know from Mo, he's always working incredibly hard when he's fit and when he's injured to be back as soon as possible. That's what he's trying now, usually he's back fitter than normal players from a minor injury, indeed he has a minor injury, we expect him back for the end of the season but not Sunday.
"It's a bonus for every player that comes back, if you add Mo to it, it gets longer and longer. Ali hasn't trained yet, very close to training with us, I have to hear from the medical staff if he's able to train today, tomorrow or at the start of next week, we're very close but don't want to take any risks.
"There's a difference between a keeper and a player, they need to run more. So if the issue with an outfield player is when they are out it is the fitness levels, so there is a different issue with goalkeepers."
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Slot remains under pressure from factions of the Anfield fan base after a turgid title defence. Having been dumped out of the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League, the race to finish in the elite European places has become paramount but even then, some have suggested that a top five finish shouldn't be enough to keep him in the Anfield hotseat for next season.
The Dutchman has been forced to navigate tricky waters on Merseyside, not helped by injury problems to key figures including Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.
The attacking duo and fellow marquee summer signing Florian Wirtz have only managed 119 minutes on the pitch together. Ekitike is at the beginning of his rehabilitation from an Achilles rupture, while Isak is on the comeback trail having netted his first Anfield league goal during the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last weekend.
Slot added: "Happy to have Alex back, Mo is a great scorer, not available but Alex is and other players who haven't scored the amount I think they are able to...that will go back to normal at a certain moment for the better."
Liverpool can move level on points with United with a win on Sunday but there is also personal pride and bragging rights at stake after Harry Maguire ended the Red Devils' nine-year wait for a triumph on rival soil in October.
For Woodman, he is set to return to the scene of the crime after facing criticism on his last visit to Manchester in 2021 when his errors led to efforts from Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes.