The Merseysiders hope that Alisson will return and Salah is expected to return soon
Arne Slot hopes to have Alisson and Mohamed Salah in his Liverpool squad in the final weeks of the season.
Goalkeeper Alisson remains in contention to face Manchester United on Sunday and Slot insists that Salah could play for the team again, contrary to comments made by Egypt national team manager Ibrahim Hassan earlier this week.
Hassan said Salah will be sidelined for about a month with a hamstring injury but Slot hopes the Liverpool forward’s career is not over as he prepares for a new challenge in the summer.
Slot said of the former Chelsea and Roma star: “He always works very hard during the season when he is healthy and when he is injured he comes back quickly.
“Usually he comes back faster than other players. He has a minor injury and we are waiting for him and we need him in the last half of the season, but not on Sunday.
“We are relieved that his injury is minor and he is able to play for us in the World Cup. If a player deserves a red card then Mo.”
The Liverpool Slot boss is quietly confident about Alisson’s return
Third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman played against Crystal Palace last week but Alisson could return to action at Old Trafford.
“He hasn’t trained with us yet but he is very close,” said Slot. “We will hear from the doctor whether he can train today, we don’t want to take any risks. [But] There is a difference between a player and a goalkeeper in terms of returns. [Outfield] the players need to run more.”
Liverpool have won their last three league games and will move above United into third place with a win at the weekend but Slot still feels there is still more to come from his side.
He said: “I think we can be a lot better than we are now. If you look at the results you can be good – three wins from three games – but performance wise it’s not our best three of the season.
“We can play much better and show that we can, in many of those games we were unlucky, I won’t say in the last three games that we didn’t deserve to win, but we were more lucky than we’ve had this season.
“It would help if everyone was available every once in a while. That’s been a problem all season and it’s too much right now.”
Isak returns Liverpool’s biggest boost – Slot
One player Liverpool have missed for most of the season is Alexander Isak but the Swede is fit and he showed his love of goal with a win against Palace.
“Having Alex around a lot helps. He’s at a great level,” Slot said.
“Normally, having more players available will help you not to play, currently not playing three times in seven days also helps.
“Converting scoring opportunities is something we haven’t done well this season. One of the players we thought could do it [Isak] was not yet available. Last week you saw in the opportunity, which was not the biggest one we got this season, you finished it really well.
“Scoring a goal is important to put it in the right way. We are happy with Alex’s return. It is unfortunate that we do not have Mo, who was a top scorer in previous years, on Sunday.
“Alex and the rest of the players haven’t scored the number of goals I think they can, or have in years past. That will get back to normal at some point. The sooner, the better.”
