Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a significant injury update ahead of his side's Premier League trip to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, offering a glimmer of hope amidst a lengthy absentee list.
Szoboszlai Set for Spurs Squad
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Slot revealed that key midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is in contention to feature against Spurs. The Hungarian was forced off during last weekend's 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion but has since returned to partial training.
"Dominik trained yesterday, parts of the training, for the first time," said Slot. "Let's see where he is today and how he is tomorrow." The Dutch coach added that if Szoboszlai is "completely fit," he will start, having been a staple in the side for the past season and a half.
Defensive Boost and Gakpo Update
The Reds have also received a timely boost in defence. Conor Bradley is available again after suspension, and fellow right-back Jeremie Frimpong has returned to full training after a muscle injury sustained in late October. This is crucial as stand-in Joe Gomez, who started at right-back against Brighton, is ruled out of the Tottenham match.
There was further positive news regarding forward Cody Gakpo. While the Dutch attacker will miss the upcoming fixtures against Tottenham and Wolves, a recent scan showed promising results. "He had a scan that looked promising," Slot confirmed. "That means he might come back a bit earlier than expected two weeks ago."
Significant Absences Remain
Despite these boosts, Liverpool will travel to North London significantly depleted. Seven players are confirmed unavailable for the clash. Alongside Gomez and Gakpo, the list includes long-term absentee Giovanni Leoni. No update was provided on midfielder Wataru Endo.
Furthermore, this match marks Liverpool's first outing since the departure of star forward Mohamed Salah to the Africa Cup of Nations. The fixture presents a test of squad depth as Liverpool aim to extend their current unbeaten run across all competitions to six games.
The showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is set for Saturday evening, with both teams keen to secure vital points in the Premier League's festive schedule.
