Alongside Liverpool’s poor run of form, head coach Arne Slot is also grappling with several injury problems within his squad. Giovanni Leoni remains a long-term absentee, while Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong, Alexander Isak, Curtis Jones, and Ryan Gravenberch have all faced fitness setbacks in recent days and weeks.
Slot will hope to recover some of those players for Saturday night’s clash with Aston Villa at Anfield, though Frimpong is ruled out until early December. According to Lewis Steele’s latest Liverpool Confidential report for Mail Sport, there’s mixed news on the injury front. Alisson is not expected to feature next week and will miss the Villa game, while both Isak and Jones are “doubtful” to be fit in time.
On a brighter note, Gravenberch is expected to return to action this weekend — a major boost for the Premier League champions. Still, the timing of injuries to Isak and Jones has been particularly unfortunate. The club’s record signing had only recently returned to full fitness and played two complete matches before suffering a groin issue during the 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, halting his momentum at Anfield.
Meanwhile, Jones had been in excellent form and pushing for a regular starting role before being forced off in the 3-2 loss to Brentford — a setback made worse by Gravenberch’s simultaneous absence.
Even if Isak and Jones recover in time for the Villa match, Slot may choose to ease them back from the bench, mindful of the crucial fixtures against Real Madrid and Manchester City that follow. For now, Liverpool will be hoping to have both available by the weekend, as they look to end a dreadful October on a positive note.
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