Liverpool underwent a rigorous session at the AXA Training Centre as they gear up for one of the season’s biggest clashes.
The Reds are set to face Manchester City on Sunday in the latest chapter of their modern rivalry. Over the past decade, the two clubs have been central figures in several Premier League title races, with City claiming six titles under Pep Guardiola since 2016, while Liverpool secured two, including last season. However, both teams currently trail Arsenal this campaign, with the Gunners sitting six points ahead of City and seven clear of Liverpool. With Arsenal playing Sunderland the previous evening, there’s a chance for them to extend their lead and increase the pressure on their rivals.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot stressed that he is approaching the season one game at a time, especially after his team recently endured six defeats in seven matches across all competitions. Slot cannot overlook a City side determined to reassert themselves as England’s dominant team.
At his pre-match press conference, Slot confirmed that Alexander Isak is set to return to training ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium. The striker has had a cautious start to his Liverpool career following his £125 million British record transfer in the summer. Arriving short of full fitness, Isak then suffered a groin injury that sidelined him for the last four games. Footage from Friday’s training session, shared in the club’s latest “Inside Training” video, shows Isak back on the pitch with his teammates, though Slot has confirmed he will not yet be ready to start and still needs to build up his match fitness.
Jeremie Frimpong and Alisson Becker remain sidelined with hamstring injuries, with Alisson expected to return against Nottingham Forest after the international break on 22 November. Youngsters Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns are also out with hamstring issues, while Giovanni Leoni has been ruled out for the season following an ACL rupture on his debut in September’s 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton.
Another centre-back, Joe Gomez, was absent from the main pitch during training but was seen working out in the gym. It’s possible Liverpool are managing him carefully to ensure he is available for the City clash, as he remains the only senior backup to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, with Leoni unavailable. Alternatively, his absence from the pitch may be for unrelated reasons and does not necessarily rule him out of the squad.
To cover numbers, Rhys Williams, who hasn’t played for the first team since 2021, and 18-year-old Lucas Pitt were called up. Pitt has made seven appearances for the under-21s this season, scoring once, and also played once for the under-19s in the UEFA Youth League. Trey Nyoni also trained with the first-team squad instead of featuring in the under-21s’ 3-0 defeat to West Ham on Friday evening.
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