Arne Slot is hoping to have both Alisson and Mohamed Salah in his Liverpool team for the final weeks of the season.
Goalkeeper Alisson remains in contention to face Manchester United on Sunday while Slot also insists Salah could play for the club again, contrary to remarks made by Egypt’s national team director Ibrahim Hassan earlier this week.
Hassan said Salah would be sidelined for around a month with a hamstring injury but Slot is confident the striker’s Liverpool career is not over as he prepares for a new challenge in the summer.
Slot said of the former Chelsea and Roma star: “He is always working incredibly hard during the season when he is fit and when he is injured to get back as soon as possible.
“Usually he is back earlier than other players. He has a minor injury and we expect and need him back for the final part of the season, but not for Sunday.
“It is a big relief that his injury is minor and he is able to play for us and at the World Cup. If a player deserves a big send off then it is Mo.”
Liverpool boss Slot quietly confident over Alisson return
Third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman played against Crystal Palace last week but Alisson could return for the game at Old Trafford.
“He hasn’t trained with us yet but is very close to,” said Slot. “We will hear from the medical staff if he can train today. We don’t want to take any risks. [But] There is a difference between a player and goalkeeper in terms of coming back. [Outfield] players need to run much more.”
Liverpool have won their last three league games and will move above United into third place with a win at the weekend but Slot still feels there is more to come from his side.
He said: “I think we can be at a much higher level than we are now. If you look at the results then you can be positive – three wins from three games – but performance wise it is not our three best of the season.
“We can play much better and have shown we can. In many of those games, we have been unlucky. I would not say in the last three games that we did not deserve to win, but we were more lucky than we have ever been this season.
“It would be helpful if everyone was available every once in a while. That has been the issue throughout the season and it is very extreme at the moment.”
Isak return a huge boost for Liverpool – Slot
One player Liverpool have missed for most of the season is Alexander Isak but the Sweden international is now fit and showed his predatory instincts with a goal against Palace.
“Having Alex more available helps. He is top level,” said Slot.
“In general, having more players available will help with consistency. At the moment, not playing three times in seven days also helps.
“Converting chances to goals is something we have not done well this whole season. One of the players that we thought could [Isak] has hardly been available. Last week you saw with a chance, which wasn’t the biggest we’ve had this season, he finished it really well.
“Scoring a goal is vital for setting you up in the right way. Happy to have Alex back. It is unfortunate we don’t have Mo, who has been a great goalscorer over the years, on Sunday.
“Alex and some other players have not scored the amount of goals I think they are capable of, or have done in previous years. That will go back to normal at some point. The sooner, the better.”
