Arne Slot shares Liverpool injury boost and scare and explains Federico Chiesa decision

Arne Slot gave a Liverpool injury update

Liverpool are set to be handed an injury boost when they travel to Leeds United on Saturday after Arne Slot confirmed that he expects Conor Bradley to be fit.

However, the Dutchman also revealed that Joe Gomez has been carrying a knock after being replaced midway through the second half in the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Sunderland.

Bradley has been absent through injury since the November international break and missed Liverpool’s last four matches as a result.

With Jeremie Frimpong also sidelined because of a hamstring injury suffered back in October, it has left the Reds short of natural options at right-back.

Both Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones have been tasked with filling in in recent weeks, prior to Gomez returning to the starting XI for last weekend’s 2-0 win over West Ham United.

But Slot confirmed his options are about to be bolstered by Bradley’s return despite having to replace Gomez shortly after the hour-mark in midweek.

Slot

“Joe Gomez got a knock in the West Ham game but was still able to start,”

“He couldn’t make the full 90 minutes but I think he will be able to train again today.

“Yesterday was a recovery day for most of them, today we will train again and let’s see where they are.

“Conor Bradley has trained this week so I expect him to train today and then he is available to be in the squad tomorrow.”

Slot has made headlines by benching Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s last two matches, leaving the Egyptian unused against West Ham before bringing him on at half-time against Sunderland.

The Reds boss gave little away with regards to whether the forward would be in line for a recall against Leeds, but conceded it is no surprise that his recent usage of Salah has prompted plenty of interest.

Slot commented

“I think every player is in my mind to start because we have so many good players,”

“And Mo has been such an exceptional player for us.

“He’s always in my mind to either start or come on. Yes, of course (I understand). Maybe he deserves that because he has been so influential for this club and for me and for his team-mates for seven years I think already.

“It’s completely normal. If I don’t play players who just come to the club, we’re already talking about it so it’s completely normal that people aren’t talking about it when he isn’t playing.”

Meanwhile, Slot also explained his usage of Federico Chiesa with the Italian yet to start in the Premier League or Champions League this season despite impressing off the bench on a number of occasions - including in midweek when making a game-saving goalline clearance in stoppage-time to earn Liverpool a share of the spoils.

Slot said.

“As I just said, every player has a possibility to start but we have many options to start in his position,”

“He has indeed had an impact coming off the bench a few times.

“Normally you bring a striker in to score a goal but he, in this situation, kept on running in a moment when a player might stop and think they cannot do a lot anymore because he’s going to go one-v-one so that says a lot about his mentality to not concede.

“And that’s a good thing because that’s not what only defenders should have but also what attackers should have.”

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