Arne Slot’s three-man injury update before Man City; surgery confirmed for defender

The relentless fixture schedule means that even before the dust had settled on Liverpool’s draw with Aston Villa, manager Arne Slot was already addressing the media to discuss the upcoming crucial match against Manchester City. As always, injury updates were a key topic of conversation.

Slot began with the status of Cody Gakpo, stating, “Let’s see, I hope [he’s available], I’m not 100% sure. He hasn’t trained with the team yet. Maybe he does a bit today. I don’t know exactly. It will be a close call.” Gakpo’s availability remains uncertain, leaving Slot and the team in suspense.

The manager then turned to Conor Bradley, who sustained an injury at Villa Park. “No, he [Bradley] still has to come in, so we don’t know yet,” Slot explained. “I would be completely surprised if he’s involved in the Sunday game, or the Wednesday game against Newcastle. You can assume that’s not going to happen.” Bradley’s absence will undoubtedly be a concern for Liverpool.

A more long-term update was provided on Joe Gomez. “Joe Gomez had surgery for his hamstring injury, so he’s out for a long time,” Slot confirmed. “He will be back maybe just before the end of the season.” This news is a significant blow to Liverpool’s defensive options.

Slot then offered a broader perspective on the squad’s fitness. “Then, of course, these two players are not injured but they come back from an injury – [Diogo] Jota and Trent [Alexander-Arnold], so that’s also the reason they don’t play 90 minutes five times in a row in 15 days,” he said. “That would be a big risk, we could see this yesterday with Conor Bradley.” Managing the workload of returning players is crucial for Slot.

The loss of Gomez and Bradley, coupled with the need to carefully manage Alexander-Arnold’s fitness, leaves Liverpool significantly depleted defensively. This poses a considerable challenge for the upcoming weeks.

Slot’s approach to squad management will be critical. With Alexander-Arnold and Jota returning from injury, their game time will need to be carefully monitored to avoid further setbacks. Darwin Nunez, following his recent miss and social media activity, could have an opportunity to redeem himself at the Etihad Stadium.

The lack of January transfer activity may be a point of contention among fans, given the current injury situation. However, Liverpool have demonstrated this season that Jarell Quansah can capably fill in at right-back if required.

The upcoming schedule presents a demanding challenge, with five matches in 15 days, culminating next Wednesday. However, a lighter March schedule, featuring only one Premier League game, could provide some respite for the squad.

The hope is that Liverpool can navigate this period with minimal further injuries and a healthy accumulation of points. Slot’s tactical acumen and ability to adapt will be tested.

The upcoming matches will be a true test of Liverpool’s squad depth and resilience. The team will need to pull together and demonstrate their collective strength to overcome these challenges.

The fans will be hoping for positive news on Gakpo’s fitness and that Alexander-Arnold and Jota can continue their return to full form without incident.

The match against Manchester City is a crucial test for Liverpool, and the injury situation adds another layer of complexity to the encounter.

Slot’s ability to manage his resources and motivate his players will be paramount in the coming weeks.

The team’s performance in these challenging circumstances will be a testament to their character and determination.