Liverpool manager Arne Slot don drop plenty updates for hin squad ahead of di big FA Cup quarter-final match against Manchester City dis weekend. Di talk dey full of injury news, return of players, and di big one – Mohamed Salah fit to play.
After di international break wey come pass, Salah announce say im go leave Liverpool at di end of di season. But before dat final goodbye, im dey ready to face City. Slot confirm say Salah train with di team on Thursday and Friday, and im dey fully available for Saturday match. “Yes, im dey available,” Slot yarn. “Im train with us yesterday, go train again today, and ready for tomorrow.”
For Alexander Isak, di story dey different small. Di striker just return to full training after 101 days wey im no play because of broken leg. Slot say im no go start di match, but e fit make squad. “E go too fast for starting lineup,” Slot talk. “Yesterday na im first training after 101 days. E go take small time to give am plenty minutes, but we go work am carefully.” Slot even suggest say Isak fit play few minutes if di match go extra time.
For goalkeeper Alisson Becker, news no sweet. Im no go play against City, and no go feature for di Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain next week. Slot say dem dey expect am to return before di season end, but for now, im dey out.
Jeremie Frimpong and Federico Chiesa get chance to play. Both players go train on Friday to see if dem fit make di squad. Frimpong get injury while playing for Netherlands, and Chiesa withdraw from Italy squad. Slot say Frimpong train with di team and seem okay, but im still get one step to make for playing every three days.
Long-term injuries still dey affect Liverpool. Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni no dey available, while Wataru Endo dey recover from ankle surgery. Slot talk about di challenge of many matches dis season. “Di amount of games na di biggest issue for dis team,” im say. “We don show say we get quality players, but di schedule heavy.”
For di City match itself, Slot remember how dem play at Etihad Stadium last season. “Away game last season, we score from set-piece wey important,” im yarn. “We no get dat at Etihad last season – dem score, we no score, we get one disallowed.” Im talk about how City dominate ball for first half at Anfield dis season, but Liverpool turn am around for second half. “How many teams fit do dat?” Slot ask.
Im also talk about how to stop City winger Doku. “I do my homework well for dis game,” Slot say. “Doku… di year before im even better, 11 times im dribble past one of our defenders. Last game na 7 or 8. I no go sure say im no fit do dat again, but hopefully we learn from dat.”
Slot emphasize say stopping Doku no be only about one-on-one. “E no always about Doku,” im explain. “Na di environment. If e be one-on-one, im na one of di best out there. Dat na big quality for team. We must make sure im no dey as isolated against our defenders as im dey for last game.”
Di Liverpool boss talk about di importance of scoring first against City. “I think we don feel dis season multiple times how important e dey to get lead,” Slot say. “We don struggle with dat. E dey much easier dan to dey 1 or 2-0 down. Scoring goals dey vital.”
With Salah announcement of im departure, Slot praise di Egyptian star. “What happen since im announce am na wetin im completely deserve,” Slot talk. “Unbelievable career for dis club, every three days, winning trophies. I see beautiful picture of am in front of all trophies im win, so I hope im fit add two more before season end.”
Slot say Salah announcement no change anything for di player. “For club maybe, but for Mo, e no matter,” im continue. “Dat na wetin im don show – im always dey available for im best possible shape, and e no change. Im don always give everything for dis club for all di years.”
Di match against City na crucial one as Liverpool still dey fight for three trophies dis season. After surrendering Premier League title, di FA Cup and Champions League remain targets. Di PSG clash dey come after di City game, making di next two weeks vital for Liverpool season.
Salah, wey sign for Liverpool in 2016, don score 255 goals for di club – only Roger Hunt and Ian Rush get more. Im be key part of two title-winning sides, including di 2020 team wey end long wait for top-flight title. Although im sign new two-year contract last season, frustration grow during current campaign after im get dropped from starting XI in December.
Di player and manager don patch things up after public spat, with Slot speaking well about im star forward. Now, with Salah fit again and Isak returning, Liverpool get more options for di crucial period ahead. Di FA Cup quarter-final at Etihad go test how far dis Liverpool team fit go as season enter final months.
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