Liverpool took in its final training session ahead of facing Tottenham on Saturday - here's what we spotted from the AXA Training Centre, including some good news for Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool’s players have been going through their final preparations at the AXA Training Centre today as they prepare for Saturday’s trip to Tottenham.
Arne Slot put his squad through their paces as usual on Friday after speaking to the media, and there was, of course, one notable absentee, with Mohamed Salah away as he prepares for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
There will still be questions to answer over his future, but for the time being, Liverpool will be focused on trying to boost its top-four hopes without him, starting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow.
The Reds were given a scare ahead of tomorrow’s game after Dominik Szoboszlai was forced off last weekend. Slot is certain to be without the injured Joe Gomez, Cody Gakpo and, of course, Giovanni Leoni, and he’ll be eager for a boost from his star midfielder.
There was some good news on that front as the club's cameras were present for Liverpool’s latest training session. Here’s what we spotted on Friday:
Szoboszlai hint
Given he has been perhaps Liverpool's best player this season, the sight of Szoboszlai limping off against Brighton would have been enough to fill supporters with dread.
The good news is, it doesn't seem to have been anything serious, and if the latest pictures from training are anything to go by, the Hungarian shouldn't have to miss out on tomorrow's trip to north London.
Szoboszlai was pictured taking part in the gym session and out on the training pitch, raising hopes that he will be available to face Tottenham. At the very least, it looks as though he should be fit enough for a place in the matchday squad.
Salah solution?
Whatever happens regarding Salah's future, Liverpool needs to take his time away at the Africa Cup of Nations as an opportunity to take a look at its options to eventually replace him on the right.
One solution could see Jeremie Frimpong come back into contention. The Netherlands international has been back in training following his recent hamstring injury, and he may well make his return to the squad against Tottenham tomorrow.
Whether he will be fit enough to start after nearly two months out is highly doubtful, but he will surely be seen as a potential long-term successor to Salah on the right.
Although he was initially seen as a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, Frimpong operated much more as a winger for Bayer Leverkusen, and he usually takes up a more attacking role for his country. Could we see the start of Salah's succession plan tomorrow with the 25-year-old?
The forgotten man
Blink and you'll miss it, but tucked away in the latest batch of pictures from training was a sighting of Stefan Bajcetic.
The 21-year-old looked as though he was on course to become the next big thing at Anfield when he broke through during the 2022/23 season, and actually proved to be one of a very few bright sparks during what was a disappointing campaign.
Injury brought his season to a premature end, and that has rather set the tone for Bajcetic ever since. We've only seen him make three appearances for Liverpool over the subsequent couple of years, with his loan spell at Las Palmas last season ended early as he underwent surgery on his hamstring.
He's been out of action ever since, but hopefully this brief glimpse of him might signal the end of his injury nightmare, and get him back on track to become the player many hoped he would be.
Chiesa's big chance?
You have to give credit to Federico Chiesa. Despite being continually overlooked for opportunities, he always gives his all when he is evantually called upon.
And there are no signs of him letting up in training either, with the Italian going all out during the most recent session, no doubt in the hope that he might finally be rewarded with a start against Tottenham tomorrow.
He surely has as good a chance as he's ever had during his time with the Reds. Salah's absence leaves a gap in the front three, Szoboszlai might only be fit enough for a place on the bench, and it's unlikely we'll see Frimpong from the start.
Perhaps then, Chiesa is smelling his big chance might be set to arrive. You can't say he doesn't deserve it.