Liverpool head coach Arne Slot offered updates on the fitness of Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott, and Alexis Mac Allister during Friday morning’s pre-match press conference at the AXA Training Centre.
Speaking to the media ahead of his side’s Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Slot addressed the possibility of Chiesa making his debut, Elliott’s recovery following the international break, and whether Mac Allister will be fit to feature at Anfield this weekend.
In addition, the Dutch manager confirmed that all other members of his squad are available for selection against Nuno Espirito Santo’s team.
On Chiesa, Slot said: “Federico has trained with the team now three or four times so let’s see how he does today and which decision I make because we have more than 20 players, for if I choose for a position or if I choose the ones that are the fittest at the moment.”
On Elliott, the Dutchman added: “Harvey is of course a big disappointment for him but not only for him, also for us because OK, he didn’t play that much in the first three games but he played a lot in pre-season and he showed himself really well so, of course, if he had stayed fit he would have had a lot of playing time in the upcoming fixtures.”
“But now he isn’t [fit] and that also gives the chance to someone else.
“So it is, first and foremost, a blow for himself, and then also for us because I think availability is important in the stage of the season when we play seven games in 22 days, I think.
“So, it’s a blow for the both of us but he will work as hard as always to come back in the best possible way.
“He didn’t stay fit unfortunately so he is out for a longer time.”
On Mac Allister, Slot concluded: “He was out in the last game [Mac Allister came off the bench for Argentina on Tuesday night] but he trained with us yesterday.
“I’m expecting Macca to be with us tomorrow.”
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