Arne Slot will be forced to go into this weekend's clash with Manchester City without a number of key players who are sidelined with injury. Despite hopes that the March international break would afford his players a little more time to recuperate, Saturday's FA Cup clash has come a little too soon for a number to feature.
It looks to be an increasingly busy month for Liverpool, who have to juggle FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League duties for as long as they remain in said competitions. Following Saturday's FA Cup tie, Liverpool head to the Parc des Princes to battle PSG in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the UCL.
They then return to Anfield three days later to play host to Fulham in the Premier League. It's no secret that the Reds are feeling the strain of an already jam-packed calendar across England and Europe, hampered further by qualifiers and friendlies ahead of this summer's World Cup in North America.
With a number of key players still out of action through injury as the season settles into one of its most hectic periods, the ECHO looks at all of the sidelined Liverpool players who could miss this weekend's match with City...
Alisson will be out until toward the end of the season as he continues to recover from an undisclosed injury. Speaking ahead of Liverpool's game with City, Slot explained: "He will not be part of the PSG game either, (he is) out for a bit longer. Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit."
It comes as a major blow for Liverpool considering Alisson is one of the leagues best goalkeepers, as they will instead likely utilise Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Potential return date: May
Alexander Isak has been sidelined since fracturing his leg during December's 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. However, it appears as though the Swedish striker could play a part as early as this weekend after recovcering.
Slot said: "It'll be too soon to expect him in the starting lineup, it was first time training yesterday after 101 days out. It will take a bit of time to give him a lot of minutes, but we will make sure we do the right thing to build him up.
"It is a good thing to have him on the training ground, even better to get him on the pitch."
Potential return date: Saturday, April 4 vs Manchester City (On the bench)
Mohamed Salah picked up an injury during last month's 4-0 home win over Galatasaray in the Champions League, asking to be subbed off after 70 minutes. As a result, he missed Liverpool's last outing with Brighton, but should be fit enough to make his return this weekend.
Slot explained: "Yes he is [available], he trained with us yesterday, he will train with us today and is available for tomorrow."
Potential return date: Saturday, April 4 vs Manchester City
Jeremie Frimpong came off injured during the Netherlands' game against Ecuador on Tuesday. As a result, Slot has said that he may need to manage his minutes until he is back to full fitness.
Federico Chiesa withdrew from Italy’s squad ahead of his country’s failed World Cup play-off campaign with Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but has since made positive advances in terms of recovery. Slot explained: "Federico indeed came back from the national team, where he wasn't able to play.
“But he trained with us today, so he will train with us tomorrow again and will be available for the game on the weekend."
Wataru Endo has not played since February's trip to the Stadium of Light in February, in which, he had to be stretchered of the pitch due to a foot injury. He is not likely to return to action until the end of the season.
Potential return date: 2026/27
Conor Bradley has also been recovering from a knee injury since January, after sustaining the issue in a Premier League clash with Arsenal. He is not expected to return this season.
Giovanni Leoni has been out of action since sustaining an ACL injury during September's Carabao Cup clash with Southampton. He is not expected to return until 2026/27.
