Liverpool fans have been sweating on the fitness of Dominik Szoboszlai after seeing him go down with an ankle injury last weekend.
The Hungarian has been the Reds’ best player by some distance this season, and up until Saturday had played every single minute in the Premier League.
That proud record ended against Brighton, as Arne Slot was forced to remove Szoboszlai as a precaution.
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The Liverpool head coach claimed his No. 8’s ankle ‘didn’t look good’ immediately after the match, but did suggest he could be ready for Saturday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
On Friday, Slot gave an update on Szoboszlai’s availability, as well as assessing the fitness of Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong.
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Liverpool have quietly had a mounting injury list during the season so far, which has certainly not helped them correct their poor form.
That will unfortunately continue on Saturday, with Slot confirming that neither Gakpo nor Gomez will be ready.
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Despite being set to miss the Spurs game, the Dutch coach did at least claim that his countryman’s injury is not as bad as first feared.
“He [Gakpo] had a scan that looked promising, so we’re not as worried as we were one or two weeks ago, he might come back earlier than expected, but definitely not tomorrow or next week,” said Slot. “Joe [Gomez] is not in the squad as well for the weekend.”
On Szoboszlai, the 47-year-old gave another promising update, suggesting that the Hungary captain will be involved either from the start or the bench.
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“Dominik trained in parts yesterday for the first time, so let’s see how he is today and tomorrow,” said Slot. “Jeremie [Frimpong] is in the squad again as well.”
Szoboszlai will start if possible
Pressed further on the fitness of Szoboszlai especially, Slot confirmed that the midfielder will start if it is possible for him to do so.
“It completely depends on how he does today [if he will start the game],” he said. “If he can fulfil the whole session and the medical staff and the player feel comfortable for him to play then he will start.
“If he can’t fulfil the whole session or doesn’t feel comfortable himself, then we will have a discussion. But Dom has been as starter for me and for the performances he has put in, tomorrow he will be starter if he’s fit.”
The inference is that if Szoboszlai cannot start, he will at least be ready to play a part from the bench for Liverpool.
Failing an appearance or a setback, the former RB Leipzig man looks set to be ready to face Wolves the following Saturday regardless.