Arne Slot issues major Liverpool fitness update including latest on Mo Salah, Alexander Isak, and Jeremie Frimpong | OneFootball

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has issued a significant and wide-ranging fitness update on his squad ahead of the FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City.

This injury update arrives at a critical juncture for Liverpool, who are looking to salvage their season in the FA Cup while simultaneously managing a squad stretched thin by the latest international break.

With the Reds currently fifth in the Premier League and facing stiff competition from the likes of Chelsea and Everton for European competition qualification, the return of elite attacking talent could not be better timed.

Headlines have been dominated by the potential return of Mohamed Salah, whose career at Anfield is entering its final two-month countdown following confirmation of his summer departure.

However, the most significant tactical boost may come from the long-awaited return of Alexander Isak, after the club’s marquee signing was limited to just 16 appearances and three goals following a devastating broken leg suffered against Tottenham in December.

What is the latest on Isak and Salah’s fitness?

Now, speaking to the club’s official website, manager Arne Slot revealed striker Alexander Isak is set to make his return to full Liverpool training on Thursday, having been ruled out of action since December.

“He’s going to train with the group again for the first time tomorrow [Thursday]. If you’ve worked so hard for three, four months or something like that and then to return to team training, that’s for everyone very nice,” Slot revealed.

“Of course, it’s only his first session, after three or four months [out], with the team, but it’s good to have him back because we all know who we signed and we’ve signed an incredible striker,” he continued.

“So to have him again in a team that’s usually generating quite a lot of chances – and maybe not immediately from the first moment that he can start – but to have him back for the last two months is, I think, very helpful for us.”

The Anfield boss also continued on the subject of Mohamed Salah, as he explained, “The moment he got injured, there was a bit of a situation where they thought, ‘I don’t think he’s available for City.’

“But Mo looked at me and said, ‘I think I will be available for City.’ He just does so much for his body for such a long time that he recovers so fast. So, he will train with the team again tomorrow, and if everything works well, then he’s available to be with us at City.”

Any other Liverpool fitness notes ahead of Man City?

Elsewhere, Arne Slot also pointed to confidence surrounding Federico Chiesa and the Italian’s availability for the Etihad Stadium clash, while Jeremie Frimpong would need to be assessed after a problem during the Netherlands’ meeting with Ecuador, and Alisson remains out.

Uncertainty surrounding Frimpong is another blow given the full-back’s importance to Slot’s system, having already missed significant time across four separate injury spells this season.

Despite the defensive headaches, the prospect of Salah and a returning Isak spearheading the attack provides a glimmer of hope for a side that has struggled for consistency, losing 2-1 to Brighton in their final match before the break.

With five Premier League defeats coming via stoppage-time goals this season, Arne Slot will be desperate for the clinical edge his returning stars provide to ensure they do not fall victim to another difficult result to a Manchester City side fresh off their Carabao Cup triumph.