Arne Slot confirms Liverpool double injury blow as key man returns to training | Football | Sport

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones are almost certainly ruled out of this weekend’s Premier League showdown with Aston Villa. However, there’s a glimmer of hope as Ryan Gravenberch is back in training and could make a comeback ahead of a crucial week for the team.

Gravenberch has been sidelined for the past three matches due to an ankle injury he sustained during the home defeat to Manchester United two weeks ago. Isak has also been on the sidelines after picking up a groin injury during the first half of Liverpool‘s victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, while Jones was forced off the pitch during last weekend’s Premier League defeat at Brentford.

Despite the likelihood of being without Isak and Jones for Saturday’s match, Slot remains optimistic about Gravenberch’s potential involvement.

Speaking on Friday morning, he said: “Ryan trained yesterday, Isak and Jones didn’t yet.

“Timescale? I have said many times, the end phase of the injury, things can go slower or faster. Let’s wait and see where they are.

“Ryan trained yesterday and with us today and we’ll make the call if he can start. The other two, 99.9 per cent not in the squad.”

Injury-stricken duo Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong continue to be unavailable, while defender Giovanni Leoni will miss the rest of the season following ACL surgery.

Following the Villa match, Liverpool face a Champions League encounter at home against Real Madrid before heading to title contenders Manchester City on Sunday.

Slot made a bold decision to rotate his squad heavily for Wednesday’s defeat in the Carabao Cup fourth round against Crystal Palace, leaving out key players like Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Conor Bradley, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike despite them being fit.

However, the Liverpool manager has brushed off any suggestions that his team lacks depth.

“We have enough to play the games but I have to take care of a few of them, why I made the decision not to play seven or eight,” he explained.

“I am happy with the team, the quality we have and convinced by the strategy and policy we have. But that makes it the issue, not all of them had a proper pre-season or have been injured, so when three or four are injured you go back to 15 or 16.

“I am convinced 20 is enough but we are struggling to keep them fit for obvious reasons.”