Key Takeaways:
- Alexander Isak trained with Liverpool on Thursday and is in contention to feature against Chelsea at Anfield this Saturday
- Alisson remains sidelined, while Giorgi Mamardashvili rejoined training on Friday for the first time since his injury
- Mohamed Salah is edging closer to a return, with Ibrahima Konate cleared following personal matters and Florian Wirtz participating after illness
Squad Updates Ahead of Chelsea Showdown
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has provided an encouraging update on the fitness of several key players as the Reds prepare for a pivotal Premier League encounter with Chelsea on Saturday. Alexander Isak, 26, who missed last Sunday’s defeat away to Manchester United due to a groin injury picked up in training, has returned to team sessions and could be available for selection. Slot revealed during his Friday press conference that Isak participated in training on Thursday and indicated he would assess the striker’s involvement in the final session before making a decision regarding his role against the Blues.
Slot stated, “Alex trained with us again yesterday for the first time. All good. He did parts of it, hopefully he can do parts or everything today and we see how much we are going to use him.”
🚨 BREAKING : Alexander Isak trained yesterday and should be available to face Chelsea, Arne Slot says. pic.twitter.com/1bsgklDyYD
— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) May 8, 2026
Injury and Availability Reports
Addressing other notable players, Slot confirmed that Alisson, who has been recovering from a knee problem, remains unavailable for selection. Stand-in goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who suffered his own knee injury while deputising for Alisson during Liverpool’s win at Everton, has resumed training for the first time since his setback.
Mohamed Salah sustained a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace last month but has made significant progress and is nearing his return. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate was absent from training earlier in the week for personal reasons but has since rejoined the squad. Florian Wirtz, who had been unwell recently, also trained on Thursday.
Slot explained, “Alisson not yet, Giorgi today for first time. Mo is very very close like Ali. Ibou had a personal reason for not training on Wednesday but was yesterday and today and Florian was a bit unwell but trained yesterday as well.”
Champions League Qualification Within Reach
Liverpool enter the Chelsea fixture at Anfield with Champions League qualification firmly in their sights. A victory over the Blues would open up a nine-point gap to sixth-placed Bournemouth with only three matches remaining in the league campaign. With a substantially superior goal difference, the Reds would be on the verge of sealing a place in Europe’s premier club competition for the following season.
Looking ahead to a testing run-in featuring games against Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Brentford, Slot emphasised the importance of performance in achieving Liverpool’s aims. He commented, “Usually goes hand in hand, good performance leads to results.
“The first and main aim is to qualify for the Champions League and we have shown this season we need a good performance to get results.
“The opposite has happened where we’ve had good performances and not a good result, and we’ve not often had a bad performance and a good result. We usually need a good performance to win a game.”
