A look at how Liverpool could line up when they entertain Wolves at Anfield on December 27
With a week between games, Arne Slot has the luxury of time over Christmas to plot his next Liverpool team selection. The Premier League champions are next in action when they entertain rock-bottom Wolves on December 27 and that space between fixtures must be put to good use, both on the training pitches and in the treatment room.
Alexander Isak, of course, will be the big concern for the Reds after the Sweden striker was forced off after scoring with his final touch in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Isak, who was only on the pitch for around 10 minutes having been introduced as a second-half substitute, scored from Florian Wirtz’s through ball before he was clattered by a scrambling Micky van de Ven.
Slot was not in place to offer much of a diagnosis immediately after the game, saying: “I don’t have any news on him but if a player scores, gets injured and doesn’t come back on the pitch or doesn’t try to come back, which Conor Bradley, for example did but I had to take him off and couldn’t come on.
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“But if a player doesn’t try to come back it is usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that. That is just a gut feeling and nothing more than that, nothing medical to say about it.
“I haven’t spoken to him about it yet but it’s a good thing he scored, a good goal assisted by Florian Wirtz. I said players are getting better, the team is getting better. It wasn’t perfect today, especially the last 10 minutes but we pick up points and are developing in a way I want to see.”
Captain Virgil van Dijk added: “Injuries unfortunately are part of football and hopefully with Alex it’s not too bad. He scored a great goal. It’s too soon after the game to know (the extent of it).
“He will need to be assessed. Hopefully the injuries won’t be too bad. We all saw how bad it looked with Alex but hopefully it won’t be too bad.”
The hope is that Isak’s issue is not his knee but rather a lower leg problem. Slot will be in place to offer a further update on Tuesday when he previews Saturday’s game but as reported on the ECHO’s pages on Sunday, the Reds are braced for a significant injury to their No.9.
That, then, affords Hugo Ekitike the chance to start once more and after five goals in his last three Premier League games, he will be relishing the opportunity to build on his 11 for the term when the struggling Wolves arrive on Merseyside.
Wirtz pulled up late one making a sprint in the closing stages and it is hoped the Germany playmaker was merely suffering from cramp rather than anything more serious, like a hamstring injury. Another waiting game ensues on that front.
Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended for this one meaning he won’t be able to keep up his Premier League record of starting every game. The in-form Hungary captain has been excellent for the Reds this term but they will have to find a way to victory without him after he was booked against Spurs. That could create a problem in midfield and at right-back, where has so often filled in.
Speaking of right-backs, Conor Bradley was withdrawn at half time on Saturday after Djed Spence slipped into him as he burst into the Liverpool penalty area.
The hope is that it is just precautionary but the Northern Ireland international has a far from pristine injury record as a first-team player at Anfield. Like Isak, Slot will provide a more fulsome update on Tuesday.
Jeremie Frimpong is not sidelined, at least. The Netherlands international might have been cut from the mouth in the bruising victory over Spurs at the weekend but after two months out with a hamstring issue, the speedy Dutchman is available once more and could earn just his second Premier League start as a result.
That brings us to Joe Gomez, who pulled up against Brighton last week with a muscle issue. Speaking on Friday, Slot simply said the long-serving Londoner would not be in the squad for the weekend, so another update will be anticipated and his return cannot come quick enough for the Reds currently down to the bare bones at right-back and centre-half. A positive update in his situation would be a welcome boost.
Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are expected to keep their places as a result in midfield. Federico Chiesa is vying for a rare Premier League start based on the fitness latest of Isak and Wirtz. At left-back Milos Kerkez could continue, but Andy Robertson is also pushing for a recall.
It’s a Liverpool squad that is walking wounded right now, so a few days away from the rigours of Premier League duty is vitally needed ahead of the team targeting a strong finish to a 2025 that brought so much.
