Liverpool manager Arne Slot has firmly shifted focus away from the January transfer window and onto his available players, following the news that striker Alexander Isak will be sidelined for a significant period.
Injury Blow Rules Out Key Striker
The Premier League champions have been dealt a major setback with the confirmation that Alexander Isak has suffered a broken leg. The Swedish international is expected to be out of action for a couple of months, dealing a severe blow to Liverpool's attacking options during a congested fixture schedule.
Isak's absence compounds an already challenging situation for Slot. The Reds will also be without Mohamed Salah, who is on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations until late January, and the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai for their upcoming match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Furthermore, the availability of Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo remains uncertain, with the coach describing both as 50-50 for the weekend.
Slot Shuts Down Transfer Speculation
In light of the mounting injury list, speculation had linked Liverpool with a potential move for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo. The 25-year-old, who has scored eight league goals this season, has a £65 million release clause active this month and has also attracted reported interest from Manchester United and Manchester City.
However, Slot was unequivocal in dismissing such talk. He also ruled out the possibility of recalling Harvey Elliott from his season-long loan at Aston Villa. The 22-year-old midfielder has found game time extremely limited under Unai Emery, not featuring in a Premier League match for Villa since September. His loan agreement includes a £30 million obligation to buy, contingent on a specific number of appearances—a threshold he is currently far from meeting.
"My only thoughts are on the upcoming two games," Slot stated emphatically. "Two difficult ones again, two home games. I think it's a time for the players we do have available to do what they've done so many times, to roll their sleeves up, and not only our players, but our fans as well to help us in the best possible way to get the results we want."
Elliott's Future Remains at Villa Park
When directly questioned about the potential of bringing Elliott back to Anfield to bolster his midfield, Slot's response was clear and final. "No, Harvey is an Aston Villa player and he is supposed to be going there for a season," he said. "So, questions about him, the best thing to ask is Aston Villa - they are doing really well, by the way."
This stance comes despite Elliott's limited role at Liverpool last season, where he made just six starts in all competitions and did not start a Premier League game until after the title was secured.
With the January transfer window open, Slot's message is one of internal resolve over external recruitment. He is calling for a collective effort from his remaining senior professionals and the Anfield faithful to navigate a tricky period, starting with the fixtures against Wolves and Leeds United. The Dutch coach's immediate priority is clearly to extract maximum performance from his existing resources rather than explore the market for quick fixes.
