Arne Slot will preview Saturday’s visit from Nottingham Forest at 9am at the AXA Training Centre on Friday. The Liverpool head coach has been back at work since the start of the week and has no doubt been watching on with his fingers crossed as many of his squad were involved during the international break.
After getting his international contingent back at the £50m Kirkby base on Thursday, Slot was able to put his players through their paces ahead of the return of Premier League action this weekend.
The Reds are aiming to continue their 100% record so far this term after victories against Ipswich Town, Brentford and Manchester United, who, of course, were slain 3-0 at Old Trafford before the break in play.
As ever, the ECHO will be at Slot’s press conference and there promises to be plenty on the agenda. Here’s a look at what we can expect to hear about when the Dutchman fronts up for the cameras on Friday morning.
One of the first questions for Slot will centre on the condition of Harvey Elliott, who is expected to miss between four and six weeks with a fractured foot. The England Under-21 international was forced to withdraw from international action after sustaining the issue on Young Lions duty and after a thorough assessment at the AXA Training Centre, Elliott’s worst fears were confirmed.
It’s been suggested Elliott is targeting a comeback on the other side of the next international break next month and Slot will be able to offer a diagnosis on the attacking midfielder, who has featured for just seven minutes so far this term having been playing understudy to Dominik Szoboszlai.
Mac Allister latest
Slot will also likely give an update on Alexis Mac Allister after his own international exertions with Argentina.
It’s fair to say the Reds’ No.10 had mixed fortunes during the break.Having initially sat out training as a precaution, Mac Allister started and scored as the world champions beat Chile 3-0 last week in Buenos Aires before being taken off as an injury concern with just over 10 minutes left.
Mac Allister, as a result, was a doubt for the clash with Colombia in a re-run of the summer’s Copa America final and eventually started on the bench as Luis Diaz’s side exacted a measure of revenge with a 2-1 win. Mac Allister was given around 25 minutes in Barranquilla.
Last year’s September international break for Mac Allister involved the midfielder huffing on oxygen canister after playing in the mountains of Bolivia, nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, and his subsequent start on the other side of the national round, at Wolves, saw him taken off at half time after he struggled at Molineux.
Slot will be able to offer a more fulsome picture of Mac Allister’s state this time out and with AC Milan to come in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, the Argentina star may even be rested and rotated for Saturday’s game.
The former Brighton midfielder was at least cleared to take part in training on Thursday however, which is a hugely encouraging sign.
Salah issue
Mohamed Salah collected his 100th Egypt cap this week as he scored in a 4-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Botswana and was recognised for his achievement by the country’s FA with a specially commissioned shirt.
But what will be more pertinent for Slot where his No.11 is concerned were his post-match comments after the 3-0 win over United before the break. Speaking about his contract impasse to former team-mate Daniel Sturridge, Salah said: “Honestly, I had a good summer.
I had a long time to stay with myself, try to think positive because as you know it’s my last year at the club.”I just want to enjoy it, I don’t want to think about it but I feel free to play football, we will see next year.
To be fair, I was coming to the game and I said: ‘It could be my last time.’ The club has not talked to me yet so I will play my last season and see at the end of the season.”
However, nearly two weeks on, the long-term future of the club’s leading marksmen of the Premier League era is likely to form part of the debate once more. Salah, it is understood, is keen to renew his stay on Merseyside.
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