Arne Slot will be hoping his squad receives a timely boost ahead of Liverpool’s crucial clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford, as the team continues to deal with a growing list of injury concerns—particularly in the goalkeeping department.
The Reds are expected to be without their first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker once again. The Brazilian has been sidelined since Liverpool’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League round of 16 second leg back on March 18.
Since then, he has missed seven consecutive matches across all competitions due to a recurring hamstring problem.
Although there had been optimism about his potential return, especially after he resumed light training on the grass last week, he was ultimately not included in the squad that defeated Crystal Palace 3-1 at Anfield.
Providing an update before the trip to Old Trafford, Slot explained that Alisson has yet to fully rejoin team training. The manager emphasized caution in handling the situation, noting that goalkeepers often require a more careful recovery process compared to outfield players.
While the medical staff were expected to make a final decision on whether he could resume full training, there remains uncertainty about his availability for such a high-stakes fixture. Slot made it clear that the club is unwilling to take unnecessary risks with such a key player.
The goalkeeping situation has been further complicated by the absence of backup option Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is expected to be out for several weeks after suffering a serious knee injury. The Georgian was stretchered off during the dramatic Merseyside derby victory against Everton, leaving Liverpool short of experienced options between the posts.
As a result, third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was handed his first Premier League start for the club last weekend. He delivered an impressive performance against his former side Crystal Palace, making several crucial saves and showing composure under pressure. One of his standout contributions came in the buildup to Andy Robertson’s goal, underlining his ability to influence the game positively.
Slot has expressed confidence in Woodman and would not hesitate to start him again against United if necessary, though Alisson would likely return immediately if declared fit.
In attack, Liverpool will definitely be without their talisman Mohamed Salah. The forward was substituted after an hour during the Palace match due to a hamstring issue, raising concerns about his availability for the remainder of the season.
With his contract situation still unresolved and only a handful of matches left, there had been speculation that he might have already played his final game for the club. However, Liverpool later clarified that the injury is not serious, and Salah is expected to feature again before the campaign concludes.
Elsewhere, Hugo Ekitike remains a long-term absentee after undergoing surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained in a Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain. The severity of the injury means he will also miss the upcoming international tournaments. Defenders Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are also unavailable as they continue their recovery.
There is some positive news, however, as Wataru Endo has returned to training after being sidelined with an ankle injury since February. While he is expected to feature again before the end of the season, this weekend’s clash comes too soon for his return.
In defense, Curtis Jones has recently been deployed at right-back and has performed admirably. However, Joe Gomez made a return from injury as a substitute against Palace and could be in contention for a starting role.
Jeremie Frimpong is also fit and provides another option in that position. On the left side, Robertson’s recent form, including his goal last weekend, may see him retain his place ahead of Milos Kerkez, who has been dealing with a minor knock.
At centre-back, the experienced pairing of Ibrahima Konaté and captain Virgil van Dijk is expected to continue, providing stability at the back.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch, who was rested for much of the Palace game, is likely to return to the starting lineup alongside Alexis Mac Allister. With Salah unavailable, Dominik Szoboszlai could be pushed into a more advanced attacking role.
He would likely be joined by Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo in supporting striker Alexander Isak, who recently ended his goal drought after returning from a broken leg.
Despite the injury setbacks, Slot still has a variety of attacking options at his disposal. Young talent Rio Ngumoha and experienced winger Federico Chiesa are available, while Frimpong has also been used in an advanced role on the right flank and could fill in for Salah if needed.
Based on current availability, Liverpool are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Woodman in goal; a back four of Jones, Konaté, Van Dijk, and Robertson; Gravenberch and Mac Allister anchoring midfield; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, and Gakpo operating behind Isak in attack.
As Liverpool prepare for one of their biggest matches of the season, much will depend on how well they can cope with these absences while maintaining their recent strong form.
