Liverpool manager Arne Slot has received a major injury boost ahead of Friday's crucial Premier League clash against Aston Villa, with Mohamed Salah set to return alongside three key players.
The Egyptian forward has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace last month, forcing him to miss high-stakes matches against Manchester United and Chelsea. But with both Liverpool and Villa locked in a tight battle for fourth place—and fifth also securing Champions League football next term—Salah's availability couldn't come at a better time.
"Konate is OK, trained with us. Salah is available for a few minutes but hopefully can come in," Slot revealed in his pre-match press conference. "Alisson trained with us, let's see where he is. Wirtz has a stomach infection so let's see how fit he is. He's on antibiotics."
The return of Ibrahima Konate and Alisson Becker adds much-needed defensive solidity, while Salah's presence—even for limited minutes—gives Liverpool a proven match-winner as they look to close out the season strong. The Reds still have a final home game against Brentford on May 24 to conclude the 2025/26 campaign.
Slot, however, grew visibly frustrated when pressed about Alisson's future beyond this season. "Boring... same old answer," the Dutch coach remarked. "I'm reading the same as you but I won't talk about it over here. You can ask as many times as you want in different ways—our fans need to support Alisson if it's his first or last game. Our fans will support him tomorrow and next week, and the same goes for next week."
One player who will be leaving Anfield this summer is Andy Robertson, with Slot praising the Scot's transformative impact during his nine-year stint. "I think he's maybe the player that changed that position into a player that constantly goes up and down," Slot said. "We all remember the press against Man City—many managers showed that to their players. I was one of them. It showed mentality and intensity. He played with that all throughout, constantly up and down, important on both sides of the pitch."
Robertson's departure marks the end of an era for Liverpool's full-back revolution, but with Salah leading the charge, the Reds have every reason to believe they can secure Champions League football and end the season on a high note.