'Training again': Slot shares 'positive' injury news ahead of Arsenal clash and delivers Van Dijk fitness update
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Liverpool are aiming to make it three Premier League wins out of three this weekend as they prepare for a top of the table clash with Arsenal.
The Reds have not been perfect during their opening two matches, but will still head into the game against Arsenal with a full complement of points.
The Gunners have also won two from two, and are yet to concede a goal in the Premier League this season.
Their record at Anfield is poor, though, and Mikel Arteta will also be missing both Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, as well as potentially Martin Odegaard.
With Arsenal slightly depleted, Arne Slot will know Liverpool have a chance to catch them on the hop.
The Reds have one or two injury concerns of their own heading into the weekend, however, and Slot gave an update on the status of those during his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
The biggest worry for Slot coming out of Monday’s rough and tumble match against Newcastle was the fitness of Alexis Mac Allister.
Mac Allister picked up a knock before the game and was subsequently ruled out.
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But while it remains to be seen whether the Argentine is ready to start, Slot at least confirmed that Mac Allister is back in training this week, with Conor Bradley also now fully recovered from his own injury.
“No, I don’t think so,” said the Liverpool head coach when asked if he had any new injury worries.
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“The positive is that Conor Bradley only had one or two training sessions before Newcastle but he has trained the whole week this week, and Mac Allister has started training again.
“That was the main thing you could maybe question, but he is okay.”
Part of Liverpool’s problems in defence this season have stemmed from their failure to get their best midfielders on the pitch at the same time.
Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister’s midfield partnership was so key to the Reds’ winning the Premier League last term, but hasn’t been seen at all so far in 2025/26.
And that unfortunately looks set to continue on Sunday, with Mac Allister unlikely to be ready for a game of this magnitude just yet.
As a result, Slot has a decision to make on whether he sticks with the successful trial of putting Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back, with Curtis Jones partnering Gravenberch, or brings Bradley back in and moves Szoboszlai forward.
Arsenal’s midfield is strong and a wrong decision could lead to Liverpool losing the game.
Much to ponder for Slot in the days ahead.