DEADLINE IMMINENT: CAN CONOR BRADLEY AND GAKPO PASS FITNESS TESTS BEFORE WOLVES KICK-OFF
Arne Slot faces an injury headache as Alexander Isak is ruled out for months. Get the latest on Bradley, Gakpo, and Wirtz here.
Here's the injury news for Liverpool, looking at Conor Bradley, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Ibrahima Konate, and others.
Arne Slot's squad will be a bit thin when Liverpool plays Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
The Reds are trying to keep their unbeaten streak going (it's at seven games right now) against the team at the bottom of the Premier League. Even though Liverpool is expected to win, they aren't taking Wolves lightly, especially with Slot's injury concerns. This makes things a bit harder.
Here's a quick rundown of the injury situation before the game and who might be ready to play:
Florian Wirtz - Cramp
This midfielder had to come off late in the Spurs game. But Slot says Wirtz is doing okay and has been training this week, so he should be good to go against Wolves.
Expected Return: Wolves (Home), Saturday, December 27
Conor Bradley - Unknown
This right-back was subbed out at halftime against Tottenham. Bradley got some treatment in the first half after running into Djed Spence. He played until halftime, but now it's a coin flip whether he'll play against Wolves. Liverpool will check on Bradley's condition on Friday.
Possible Return: Wolves (Home), Saturday, December 27
Ibrahima Konate - Unknown
This defender has been in the starting lineup for every Premier League game this season. Things have been looking up recently. But Konate wasn't seen at training on Tuesday. He was also missing from a photo Liverpool put up on Christmas Eve. It's possible Liverpool is keeping a close eye on him, or he's not training for another reason.
Possible Return: Wolves (Home), Saturday, December 27
Cody Gakpo - Muscle Problem
This winger hasn't played in the last three games. But the injury isn't as bad as Liverpool thought. He's got a small chance to play against Wolves.
Possible Return: Wolves (Home), Saturday, December 27
Joe Gomez - Muscle Problem
This defender had to be taken out during Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brighton earlier this month. Gomez is still out, but it's not thought to be too bad.
Possible Return: Leeds (Home), Thursday, January 1
Wataru Endo - Ankle
This midfielder hurt his ankle in the 3-3 draw at Leeds at the start of the month. There's no date yet for when the Japan international will be back.
Possible Return: January
Alexander Isak - Leg
This striker is going to be out for a while after fracturing his fibula against Spurs. Isak is on the injured list for at least a couple of months, and Liverpool won't want to bring him back too soon.
Possible Return: March
Giovanni Leoni - ACL
This centre-back is still recovering from an ACL injury. Leoni won’t play again this season.
Possible Return: August
Mo Salah - African Cup of Nations
This winger is playing for Egypt in the tournament. They're one of the favourites to win, and the final is on January 18. This means Salah could be gone for a bit.
Possible Return: Not Applicable
Dominik Szoboszlai - Suspension
This midfielder got his fifth Premier League yellow card of the season against Spurs, so he's suspended for one game.
Expected Return: Leeds (Home), Thursday, January 1
ALAN SHEARER DEMANDS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY FOR ARNE SLOT TO KEEP JOB
Arne Slot under fire! See the Shearer vs Richards debate on The Rest Is Football podcast about Liverpool’s future.
Alan Shearer thinks Arne Slot needs to actually win the Champions League if he wants to stay in charge at Liverpool, but Micah Richards sees things differently. He says Slot deserves another season, no matter what happens.
Right now, Slot’s under real pressure. Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has been a mess. They got humiliated in the FA Cup, losing 4-0 to Manchester City, and things aren’t looking any better as they head to France to face PSG in the Champions League quarter-final. If they don’t win in Europe, they probably miss out on the Champions League next season at least, that’s how Shearer sees it, since their league form has been awful.
On The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer was blunt: “It’s crazy, especially after last season and all the money they’ve spent. It just hasn’t worked; they’re all over the place, so inconsistent. He has to win the Champions League. I’m not even sure finishing top five will be enough, and it’s just sad seeing how things have gone at Liverpool.”
Back in January, Shearer said he expected Slot to get sacked if he didn’t secure Champions League football for next year. There’s a small lifeline: the Premier League might get an extra Champions League spot through the coefficient rankings, but that’s not confirmed yet.
If that happens, fifth place gets you in. Liverpool is fifth right now, but the race is tight. Only five points separate them from ninth-place Fulham, and teams like Chelsea, Brentford, and Everton are waiting for any slip-ups, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Shearer’s convinced Slot is in trouble if he misses out on the top European competition. Richards, though, thinks the Dutchman’s earned more patience, especially after winning the league just last season.
Richards said, “I’d give him another season. I hate calling it a transition, and yeah, he’s spent a lot of money, but their main striker’s been out injured, there’s been tragedy in the club, the whole contract saga with Salah has been one thing after another. Give him one more pre-season. If things aren’t fixed by Christmas, then fine, make the change. Let’s not forget, he just won the Premier League.”
Shearer wasn’t buying it. He cut in: “That’s fine, but after winning the league, they’re miles off this season, even after all that spending. I hear what you’re saying about bad luck and circumstances, but this is Liverpool. They’re expected to win, and they’ve spent a fortune. They might not even finish in the top five, that’s why he has to win the Champions League.”
FABRIZIO ROMANO CLARIFIES REAL MADRID’S STANCE ON SELLING LIVERPOOL TARGET EDUARDO CAMAVINGA
Fabrizio Romano reveals Real Madrid's stance on Camavinga as Liverpool battles Man Utd for Maghnes Akliouche.
Liverpool is going head-to-head with Manchester United for a talented winger who could step in for Mohamed Salah. Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has weighed in on Real Madrid’s position regarding a possible sale of a major Liverpool midfield target.
With Salah officially confirming he’ll leave Anfield at the end of the season, Liverpool have agreed to let him go for free, waiving the final year of his contract as a mark of respect for what he’s done for the club.
RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande looks like the favourite to replace Salah. But Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche has become a serious option, too.
Both Liverpool and United have ramped up their interest in Akliouche, recently sending scouts to watch him in Monaco’s 2-1 win over Marseille. Liverpool sees him as a real target after Salah’s departure, mainly because of his versatility, creativity, and potential for growth.
They’ve checked in on other top wingers like Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola, but Akliouche seems to be a more realistic option. Monaco is open to a sale, but wants about €70 million (about £61 million).
United, though, are now in the mix as well. So Liverpool has some competition for Akliouche, who tallied seven goals and eight assists in his 37 games this season.
On the Real Madrid front, French outlet L’Equipe claims the club could be willing to sell Eduardo Camavinga, a player Liverpool wants for their midfield. Romano responded, saying that while Madrid isn’t shoving Camavinga out the door, they would consider a strong offer from Liverpool.
Romano made it clear: Camavinga’s still a key part of Madrid’s plans, even if his form’s dipped a bit lately. Madrid doesn’t want to lose him unless a really attractive deal comes along. If no huge offer arrives, they simply keep him.
Some whispers suggest Camavinga could be available for as little as €50 million (£44 million), but the real price is likely to be closer to €70 million.
Back at Liverpool, Paul Joyce reports that FSG’s confidence in new boss Arne Slot will get tested soon, with a tough run of fixtures featuring PSG, Everton, Man United, Chelsea, and Aston Villa.
Journalist Pete O’Rourke even says Liverpool would be ready to sack Slot if things go sour and the atmosphere turns toxic.
Former player Steve Nicol has also changed his mind about Slot. Initially, he pushed back on the idea of bringing in Xabi Alonso, but now he admits that, given the current options, he’d go for Alonso if Slot departs. In Nicol’s eyes, if Slot leaves, Alonso wouldn’t be a bad solution; nobody else stands out as a better pick.
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