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Liverpool prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and Arne Slot has already tried to sign one of their defenders.

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It’s an area of the squad that needs reinforcements.

Whether Liverpool use the January transfer window to their advantage or wait until the summer, it is concurred that at least one centre-back will be on their agenda. It is an area of the squad they are light. Given the Reds’ trip to Tottenham Hotspur is the first time they have not had a midweek fixture since August, Arne Slot may feel fortunate that Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate have avoided injury so far.

The fact that Liverpool tried to sign Marc Guehi during the summer transfer window underlines that Slot and the Anfield hierarchy believe at least one option is needed. When Giovanni Leoni suffered his cruel ACL blow, it underlined how short the Reds are.

Heading into the Premier League clash against Spurs, Liverpool have just two centre-backs fit, with Joe Gomez injured. Slot will be praying that Van Dijk and Konate can remain unscathed.

The prospect of signing Guehi has not dampened after a £35 million deal collapsed on transfer deadline day. Liverpool remain interested in signing the England international, who won’t sign a new contract at Crystal Palace. But given that Guehi’s deal at Selhurst Park culminates at the end of the season, the Reds are no longer the only team in pursuit. The rest of Europe’s elite have reportedly come to the table, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are all said to be keen.

Liverpool may feel they have an advantage given a lot of the groundwork has been done. But as Guehi will be a free agent, a more lucrative package could appeal.

But even if Guehi does opt for Anfield, the Reds may still need another centre-half. Konate has still to commit his future to Liverpool, with his deal up in six months’ time. If the France international decides to depart Merseyside, another void will require filling. In addition, Gomez’s injury issues over the past few years mean he cannot be fully relied on, while a long-term successor for Virgil van Dijk, whose contract expires in 2027, needs to eventually be found.

Sporting director Richard Hughes will already be hard at work. Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck is said to be on the radar, while Dayot Upamecano reportedly has been offered to Liverpool as his Bayern deal is running down.

However, Slot might well have hinted who he’d like to sign if he had his way. When Liverpool face Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Slot may well have one eye on the performance of Micky van de Ven.

During his managerial career, Slot has already tried to sign Van de Ven on two occasions when in charge of AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord respectively. However, twice Slot was unsuccessful. FC Volendam would not sell Van de Ven the first time before the speedy defender opted to join Wolfsburg rather than Feyenoord.

“Slot wanted to sign me for AZ Alkmaar when he saw me play in the first season at Volendam,” Van de Ven recently said on The Overlap. “The club refused to sell me and I had to accept that they would not let me go. When he was at Feyenoord, he tried to sign me too, but by then I had already signed for Wolfsburg in Germany.”

Van de Ven signed for Spurs from Wolfsburg for a fee that could reach £43 million in 2023. He’s established himself as one of the leading defenders in the Premier League and played a key role as Tottenham won the Europa League last term.

However, should the North London side fail to qualify for Europe next season - they are currently 11th in the table - then he may rethink his future. Tottenham are in a strong position as the Netherlands international is under contract until 2029. Yet Van de Ven made his chief career aim on The Overlap clear as he declared: “I want to be one of the best centre-backs in the world – maybe the best.”

Given that Spurs are not one of Europe’s elite clubs, Van de Ven could feel his ultimate goal might only be achieved if he moves on. His international team-mate, Van Dijk, undoubtedly became one of Europe’s premium centre-backs after joining Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018. Aged 24, Van de Ven is only just entering his prime years, while he has significant experience at the top level.

Granted, if Tottenham were to even contemplate a sale, they would demand a significant fee. Per Transfermrkt, he has a valuation of around £58 million. But Liverpool have shown they’re willing to splash the cash for the right players. Replacing Van Dijk will be a nye-on impossible task but Slot may feel third time’s a charm with Van de Ven.

Things spotted from Liverpool training ahead of the Premier League fixture against Tottenham.

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Arne Slot will have depleted options when Liverpool travel to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League (17.30 GMT).

A mixture of injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) means that up to eight players could be unavailable for the encounter.

Mo Salah has departed to represent Egypt at AFCON, with Slot insisting that Liverpool have moved on from the saga that played out in public. With Cody Gakpo unavailable due to a muscle injury, the Reds will be without their first-choice wingers. Gakpo’s injury is not as serious as first thought, but he will not be able to play against Spurs and has been ruled out of next weekend’s clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.

In addition, Joe Gomez is unavailable after suffering an issue in last week’s 2–0 win over Brighton. He joins Gakpo, Wataru Endo (ankle), and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) on the treatment table, along with well-regarded youngsters Stefan Bajčetić and Jayden Danns (both hamstring).

While Conor Bradley returns from suspension and Jeremie Frimpong is set to be in the squad after recovering from a two-month-long hamstring complaint, Slot will still be short of players against Spurs. In total, he has 18 first-team players fit, including third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and Rio Ngumoha.

As a result, Liverpool could look to supplement their bench with some youngsters from the under-21s. The Reds uploaded footage from Friday’s training session, with Kieran Morrison among those featured. The 19-year-old is one of the standout players in the youth set-up and is capable of playing in a variety of positions. This season, he has recorded two goals and four assists in 14 games.

Morrison made his Liverpool debut in a 3–0 loss to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup earlier this season and was also on the bench for a 3–2 defeat by Brentford in the Premier League.

Slot may also include either Calvin Ramsay or Trey Nyoni in his set-up. Both have featured in the reserves several times this campaign. Given that Bradley and Frimpong are back and Endo is unavailable, midfielder Nyoni could get the nod over right-back Ramsay.

Tommy Pilling, 21, was also spotted in training although the midfielder is yet to be called up for a senior game.

Arne Slot has discussed the recent form of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones ahead of the clash against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

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Arne Slot has challenged Curtis Jones to continue his performance levels on a consistent basis for Liverpool.

The midfielder has started the Reds’ past three games and caught the eye. He was excellent in the 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League at the San Siro and backed that up with a superb display in the 2-0 win against Brighton.

Jones brought up a double-century of appearances for Liverpool last weekend. However, he has so far struggled to be a first-team regular for his boyhood club despite making a senior breakthrough in 2019.

Slot believes that Jones has been showing confidence and work-rate in abundance and hinted that he will again be in the starting line-up for today’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur. And the Liverpool boss insists that the 24-year-old has to keep on his current trajectory.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Slot said: “He's done really good in the last three games and I think that's not the first time. But maybe since I'm here it's the first time that it's three times in a row that he brings in very, very good performances. He's had in the past also very good performances and a game later I didn't like the performance as much as I did now recently in his last three games.

“So, I think it's again a challenge for him to go to the fourth, to go to the fifth, to go to the sixth game. But I think I'm not the only one who liked the way he played – with so much confidence, with so much work-rate, giving it all in every single moment for the team and really, really comfortable on the ball as well. His last three performances are the base where we expect him to go on, but that starts tomorrow against a challenging opponent like Spurs.”

Meanwhile, Slot confirmed that Dominik Szoboszlai is likely to start against Spurs - but only if he gives the green light that he is fit. The Hungary international had to be taken off in the closing stages against Brighton because of an ankle issue.

Szoboszlai was due to train yesterday. Slot said: "If the player feels comfortable to play and he did all the things he had to do, then he will start. If he can fulfil the whole session or he fulfils it but he doesn't feel comfortable himself, we will have a discussion."

Liverpool are up against serious competition for the signature of a key transfer target

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Liverpool are one of the main clubs in the race to sign Antoine Semenyo next year but Manchester United are prepared to go ‘all-out’ to snub them of a deal.

The Reds have been linked with the Bournemouth star for months now as they pursue a long-term successor for Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian is out of contract in 2027 but recent reports have suggested he could leave Anfield next year.

Salah’s form has not been up to his usual standard this season, which resulted in him being demoted to the bench on six occasions in the Premier League and Champions League.

His recent bombshell comments also saw him left out of the squad that travelled to face Inter Milan. Salah has since been reinstated in the team but transfer rumours are building ahead of January. He is currently in Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations could be away from Liverpool until late January, depending on how far Egypt reach in the competition.

Liverpool face competition for Antoine Semenyo

Semenyo is a player in high demand right now. Liverpool have been linked with the Ghanaian for a while but they have hefty competition to see off if they want to secure his signature.

It was reported earlier this week that the Reds have agreed personal terms with the Cherries star, but so have Manchester City. The Premier League title contenders have also reportedly reached a personal agreement with Semenyo, who will be spoilt for choice for suitors at this rate.

Eager clubs will also see the attacker’s £65 million release clause become active in the new year, which will appeal to those looking to make an early move in 2026. Pep Guardiola is a big fan of the 25-year-old and recently hailed him as an ‘extraordinary player’, but the manager’s position at the club could be a sticking point in their transfer mission.

There are now rising doubts over whether Guardiola will remain at Man City beyond this season. The manager is under contract until 2027 but the club is aware of the possibility of him leaving next summer, which could impact their stance on the transfer market.

Man United have big plan to sign Antoine Semenyo

Amid the Man City uncertainty, rivals Manchester United are expected to ‘go all-out’ in attempt to snub the competition for Semenyo’s signature.

That’s according to The Telegraph, who report that United are looking to land a deal for Semenyo in January and hope that the situation surrounding Guardiola’s future could play into their hands. Just like Guardiola is fan, Ruben Amorim has described the United target as a ‘special player’.

Tottenham Hotspur are also in the running to sign Semenyo and have been named alongside City, United and Liverpool as the four main clubs in pursuit of the Ghana international. The story details that it remains to be seen whether the Guardiola uncertainty will impact Semenyo’s decision but rival clubs will still be encouraged to try and exploit the situation for their own advantage.

Semenyo has ten goal-scoring contributions so far this season for Bournemouth. He will be looking to better his tally from last term, which saw him notch 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions.

Liverpool have a rare blank midweek schedule as they prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

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It is a luxury that Arne Slot has barely been afforded this season.

Not that Liverpool will be complaining too much. If the Reds experienced it more often, they would not be competing at Europe’s top table.

Qualifying for the Champions League means that there are few blank days in the diary. As a consequence, there is little time to work on things thoroughly at the training ground. Routines often revolve around playing a game, recovery, and swiftly preparing for the next match. There is some tactical work done, of course, but not as much as Slot or any of his counterparts in a similar position would like.

However, Liverpool have seven days between their 2-0 victory over Brighton and the trip to Tottenham Hotspur. Excluding international breaks, you have to go back to August since Slot did not have a midweek match in his schedule.

Given that the Reds have scarcely had a straightforward campaign, with their Premier League title defence already over before Christmas, there is much to improve on. A free week at the AXA Training Centre means that Slot, in theory, could look to put the time to good use out on the grass. However, the Liverpool boss has already admitted that it is unlikely to be the case.

Several of his key players are in need of respite. Players such as Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai who have barely missed a minute need some time to recuperate. So rather than his troops being out every day in training, Slot has suggested that his staff’s medical staff are likely to recommend rest.

Speaking before the Brighton game, Slot said: “That's normally definitely beneficial because training time helps to get connection going, although playing time helps with this as well. It's also safe to say that some of these players have played so, so, so many minutes that I don't think my performance staff will tell me, 'OK, let's go out in the upcoming two weeks and train twice a day.'

“I don't think that's what they're going to advise me. So yes, there will be more playing time, so there's more time to prepare for a game, because that is also the difference between us and Brighton; I think they've had five or six days to come up with a game plan, train this, optimise their game plan, and it's the first time after the Inter game we have a session today. If you play in Europe, it's the last thing you should complain about because this is what we want, but it is the reality for us in the last months indeed.”

Indeed, it seems it will be a balancing act between those who may train every day and others given more time off. Still, Slot will likely appreciate not having to stage as much media work as usual and put the additional hours to good use.

Liverpool and Spurs team news ahead of the Premier League fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Liverpool look to stretch their unbeaten run to six games when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The Reds are hoping that their dire run of form has come to an end. A period of six Premier League defeats in seven games has meant that their title defence is over before Christmas, as Arsenal are 10 points ahead.

The aim for Arne Slot’s side is to finish in the top four. They still have a challenge to achieve that. Liverpool are seventh in the table after a 2-0 victory over Brighton last time out but two points adrift of the Champions League places, and pressure has started to ease on head coach Arne Slot.

Spurs, meanwhile, head into the game against the backdrop of a 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest. Despite only taking over as boss in the summer, Thomas Frank is already starting to face scrutiny. Tottenham are 11th in the table.

Ahead of the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, here’s a look at the current team news for both sides.

Liverpool team news

Mo Salah - out

The winger will be unavailable for a period of time as he represents Egypt at AFCON.

Joe Gomez - out

The defender limped off in the first half of the Brighton victory with a muscle problem. Slot said it would be highly unlikely that Gomez would be able to face Tottenham. Liverpool will be hoping that he’s not set for another prolonged period on the treatment table.

Cody Gakpo - out

The forward has missed the past two games with a muscle injury and is not expected to be back for another couple of weeks.

Wataru Endo - out

The midfielder has an ankle issue and he will not be available for a couple of weeks.

Giovanni Leoni - out

The centre-back continues his long recovery from an ACL injury. He won’t play again this season.

Stefan Bajcetic - out

The midfielder is still to play this season after suffering a hamstring issue while on loan at Las Palmas last season.

Jayden Danns - out

The striker is on the comeback trail from a hamstring complaint. He could be back in the new year.

Dominik Szoboszlai - doubt

The midfielder had to be withdrawn in the closing stages of the Brighton game because of an ankle issue. If it is just a bit of swelling and has settled then Szoboszlai could be fit to feature.

Jeremie Frimpong - doubt

The summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen has been unavailable for almost two months because of a hamstring problem. Slot has suggested that Frimpong could be back in training this week but Liverpool will have to monitor his progress.

Conor Bradley - return

The right-back was suspended against Brighton after accumulating five yellow cards but is again available.

Tottenham team news

James Maddison - out

The midfielder suffered an ACL injury in the summer and might be out for the campaign.

Destiny Udogie - out

The full-back has a hamstring injury and will not be back until next month.

Dominic Solanke - out

The former Liverpool striker is still on the comeback trail from a foot issue. Solanke has yet to return to full training.

Radu Dragusin - out

The defender is in the final stages of his rehab from a serious knee injury having recently played for Spurs’ under-21s. However, he may need more game-time before being considered for first-team selection.

Pape Matar Sarr - out

The midfielder is representing Senegal at AFCON.

Yves Bissouma - out

The former Brighton man will represent Mali at AFCON, while he has recently been suspended by Spurs for disciplinary reasons.

Dejan Kulusevski - major doubt

The forward has been sidelined since the end of last season. Frank has still not confirmed when Kulusevski will be back in the squad but he is getting closer.

Kota Takai - major doubt

The defender has yet to make an appearance for Tottenham since he signed in the summer. Taki recently played for the under-21s and might be close to being included in the squad.

Liverpool are up against Spurs and two other Premier League sides in the race for this transfer target

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Liverpool are in competition with three Premier League rivals for the signature of Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi.

The Reds are in need of defensive reinforcements to boost their limited options at centre-back, but they are also on the market for a new addition to their engine room.

As results continue to be inconsistent at Anfield, there have been a lot of rumours surrounding how Arne Slot’s team will look even as early as February. Despite spending a record-breaking amount of money over the summer, Liverpool are keen to invest in new players once again, which could shake up how the team looks for the second half of the season.

Liverpool rival Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs for David Frattesi

Inter midfielder Frattesi is a figure on Liverpool’s radar right now and his situation in Italy could well open the door for him to move clubs in 2026. The 26-year-old has been struggling for regular minutes under manager Cristian Chivu and is now ‘aware’ that a change of club and league could ‘revitalise his competitive edge’.

That’s according to Fichajes, who has reported that Frattesi is struggling to get time on the pitch due to competition from his teammates. Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are all credited with interest in the 26-year-old, who is under contract until 2028.

Frattesi is ‘monitoring the situation’, as the Premier League has appeared to be an ‘ideal destination’ for him to move forward in his career.

Inter are said to be ‘open to offers’ for the midfielder’s signature, providing any offer that comes their way respects the ‘value of a full fit Italian international’.

Frattesi has earned plenty of praise in recent years. Last year, former Inter Milan manager Andrea Stramaccioni described the I Nerazzurri star as ‘one of the best midfielders in Europe, especially inside the last 16 metres’.

Liverpool looking to ease pressure on key midfield trio

The report claims that Liverpool are ‘considering’ signing Frattesi in order to ease some of the workload currently carried by Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.

The midfield trio have been key players for Liverpool, particularly Szoboszlai this season. Having featured in every Premier League and Champions League match so far, the Hungarian has already been lauded as Liverpool’s best player of the season by Jamie Carragher.

Szoboszlai has generated plenty of praise this term, especially when he has played at right-back to ease Liverpool’s ongoing injury concerns in defence.

While the Reds are on the trail of Frattesi, Arsenal are also scouting him a move ‘does not seem straightforward’ due to their own competition in midfield.

Tottenham have emerged as one of the most ‘attractive’ destinations for Frattesi based on the club’s project and the amount of playing time he would likely get at the club. Spurs are reportedly looking to establish themselves as ‘genuine title contenders’ and have acknowledged their midfield as an area in need of improvement.

Liverpool might see both Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong back in the squad to face Tottenham Hotspur

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It’s a position that has been problematic for Liverpool throughout the season. In total, six players have operated in the role of right-back in the Premier League - and we have yet to hit the halfway stage.

Certainly, the lack of consistency in the full-back area has been a factor behind the Reds’ title defence being over before Christmas. But for Saturday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur, Arne Slot might have both of his recognised options available.

There was the sorry sight of Joe Gomez dropping to his haunches and having to be withdrawn in the first half of last weekend’s 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Gomez has been hampered by several injury issues over the past few years and may face another spell on the treatment table.

However, Conor Bradley will be back to face Spurs after he served a one-match suspension for an accumulation of five yellow cards. The Northern Ireland international has had an interrupted 2025-26 campaign, making his task of succeeding Trent Alexander-Arnold more challenging. Bradley has been injured on two separate occasions, meaning his game-time has been carefully managed.

And Jeremie Frimpong, signed to fill the void of Alexander-Arnold, has endured a difficult start. Signed for £29 million fro Bayer Leverkusen, two hamstring problems have limited the former Celtic man to nine games so far. Frimpong has been sidelined for almost two months after suffering a blow during a 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

Yet, according to Slot, there was a chance that Frimpong could be back in training this week. Given that Liverpool will be short of senior players for the trip to Tottenham, the Netherlands international might well make the bench if he remains unscathed.

Liverpool will head to Tottenham without their first-choice wingers. Mo Salah is representing Egypt at the African Cup and Nations and Cody Gakpo is injured.

Given that Slot has changed his system in recent games, neither might have started in North London had they been fit. Slot has deviated away from his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation and opted for a 4-4-2 diamond. It has yielded a run of five matches unbeaten and lifted Liverpool up to seventh in the Premier League table.

The decision to deploy four midfielders - Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister - has offered more stability and allowed the Reds to dominate the engine room. It also allowed Florian Wirtz to take up half-spaces on the left-hand side.

And a diamond system is one that can allow Bradley to thrive if, as expected, he is given an immediate recall against Spurs. With Liverpool packing the middle of the park, it allows space out wide for the full-backs. Despite not being naturally attacking, Gomez took up advanced positions against Brighton. He was high up the pitch when bravely winning the header to assist Hugo Ekitike’s opening gaol with the first minute. There was another occasion when Gomez marauded to the byline and cut a ball back for Ekitike, who fired over.

Given that Bradley is more of a forward-thinking right-back, he should only benefit, especially as Gravenberch or Jones have been offering defensive protection by screening centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Certainly, when Bradley came off the bench against Inter Milan in the Champions League, he displayed glimpses of what could be to come. He displayed energy and verve, as well as having a chance on goal saved in a 22-minute cameo.

And when he is back available, Frimpong should reap the rewards from the new set-up. The 24-year-old largely played as a wing-back at Leverkusen where he recorded a total of 30 goals and 44 assists in 190 appearances. Regular crosses could also help Alexander Isak to finally light the touchpaper to his Liverpool career after enduring a slow start and bagging a solitary league goal.

On the left-hand side, Milos Kerkez has made encouraging strides. Signed for £40 million from AFC Bournemouth, he looked uncomfortable in the first few months and looked to be playing on a leash. But a string of steady performances has helped restore Kerkez’s confidence. The Hungarian will hopefully begin to show the attacking prowess that won him a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

The Tottenham Hotspur defender has spoken about the qualities of Liverpool striker Alexander Isak.

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has named Alexander Isak as the toughest opponent of his Premier League career.

The striker joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record fee of £125 million in the summer transfer window. The Reds opted to splash out an unprecedented fee after Isak plundered 27 goals for the Magpies last season.

The Sweden international netted the winning goal in Newcastle’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final - ending the Toon’s 70-year wait for a major trophy.

Isak has endured a slow start to his Anfield career, though. He arrived well short of fitness after training away from Newcastle throughout pre-season and he’s scored only one Premier League goal so far.

Having joined Spurs from Wolfsburg in 2024, Van de Ven has faced the best the Premier League has to offer. And the centre-back admitted that Isak is the player who has caused him more problems than the likes of Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

Appearing on The Overlap, Van de Van said: “The game we played against Newcastle where we lost (4-0) and I slipped, Isak was a different level. So at this point I was like he’s a top-class player. I knew he was top class but this game he was excellent. He can run in behind, he can come to the ball and he’s technical - really good with the ball. He’s fast, he has a top finish, so at that point he was just everywhere.”

Van de Ven will come up against Isak when Liverpool travel to Tottenham on Saturday. Spurs go into the game after a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest while the Reds earned a 2-0 win over Brighton.

Isak came on as a late substitute, having suffered a knock during the 1-0 victory at Inter Milan in the Champions League. The 26-year-old is still searching for full sharpness and after Hugo Ekitike bagged a double against Brighton, Isak could again be on the bench.

Speaking on Isak’s difficult opening few months at Liverpool, head coach Arne Slot said: “He is not the only No 9 who suffers in some games from not getting many chances,” said Slot, who has Conor Bradley back from injury for Saturday’s trip to Leeds. “At this level it’s not like the No 9 is involved in eight, nine, 10 chances every single half. But it is obvious and clear that we want to bring him into more threatening situations.

“Before we went to only one goal conceded in two games [West Ham and Sunderland] we had a lot of chances. Because we are a little bit more compact and not taking as many risks, we have not been able to create as many chances as all of the games before. It is definitely one of the things on my list of things to improve to get our No 9 more involved in the game and more involved in the final third.

In this league strikers don’t touch the ball that much but a few times they do touch it, it’s quite nice if they finish it off. I have no clue what the stats of Haaland are but I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t touch it 100 times a game, but he does score a lot. It is more important that they touch the ball in the right times than to touch it so many times. Haaland touches it much more where it matters and that’s where we need to improve. It is clear and obvious.”

Dominik Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez were both forced off injured in Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton.

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Phil Thompson believes that Dominik Szoboszlai is capable of making a swift return for Liverpool.

The midfielder has been the Reds’ standout player of the 2025-26 season. He’s started every Premier League and Champions League game so far, recording five goals and five assists in 24 appearances.

However, Szoboszlai was forced off in the closing stages of last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. The former RB Leipzig man sustained an ankle injury and had to be withdrawn in the 83rd minute.

Certainly, Liverpool will be hopeful that Szoboszlai is available for Saturday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur. Hungarian newspaper Nemzeti Sport has suggested that the 25-year-old has avoided a serious injury. And going off his experience, former Liverpool captain and assistant manager Thompson reckons that Szoboszlai could be fine to feature.

Speaking on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast, Thompson said: “Dominik, I'd like to think it will be swelling, it will be sore. You get to probably Wednesday and it'll be going down [with] ice treatment and rest. He'll be ready, I'm quite sure, to go out by next weekend.”

However, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has already admitted it is unlikely that Joe Gomez will be able to face Spurs. Having assisted Hugo Ekitike’s opening goal against Spurs, the defender dropped to his haunches midway through the second half and could not continue.

Gomez’s injury problems over the years have been well-documented and he had to undergo hamstring surgery earlier this year after suffering a blow during the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Plymouth Argyle.

While Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong (both hamstring) were sidelined, Slot insisted he had to be careful with Gomez. Thompson can understand why Liverpool took that approach.

He added: “You look at Joe and sometimes you worry for him because the muscle injuries and you worry for him. I remember down at Plymouth, he chased the first ball and I went: 'Oh, he's gone'. This was after about 5-10 minutes. You just know and you fear for him. When you always have that doubt in you, it's hard to really express yourself. Look, everyone wants him to play and Joe is a great option but he's got to be very delicate in how many games he gets.”

On the pair’s respective issues, Slot said after the Brighton win: "If I have a player who goes off with a muscle injury like Joe, that's normally not a positive thing.

"I would not expect him to be in the squad next week [at Tottenham Hotspur]. But sometimes you get a positive surprise. "People now maybe understand a bit better why I was always so cautious not to play him so many games. I assume many people thought, 'If you have a defender, if you have a right full-back, why don't you play him?'

"And Dom, it was his ankle. It didn't look great when I just saw him. But he has unbelievable mentality so let's hope for the best.”

Liverpool will be without Mo Salah, who has departed to represent Egypt at the African Cup of Nations, as well as Giovanni Leoni (ACL). Conor Bradley will return from suspension while Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) remains a doubt.