14 players set to miss Liverpool vs Chelsea as Arne Slot confirms double boost

Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield in Saturday's early kick-off in the Premier League, and both teams having injury issues to contend with

Mohamed Salah could be among as many as 14 players missing for either Liverpool or Chelsea in their Premier League clash.

Ahead of Saturday's game – a 12.30pm kick-off at Anfield – Arne Slot has been handed a double injury boost with Alexander Isak and Giorgi Mamardashvili expected to be available. Isak missed the clash against Manchester United last weekend with a knock, while Mamardashvili has recovered from a leg wound suffered against Everton.

Liverpool go into the match looking to secure their place in the Champions League positions. The Reds are currently in fourth place, six points ahead of Bournemouth in sixth position. The Premier League’s UEFA ranking means that the top five will play in UEFA’s top competition for the second year in a row.

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Chelsea, meanwhile, are down in ninth place and are fighting to play European football next season. They are three points adrift of Brentford in seventh place.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea have fairly long injury lists ahead of the meeting.

Here’s a look at the players who could miss the game for both sides.

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Liverpool

There is doubt about Mohamed Salah's availability, who is yet to return to training. It’s a similar situation with Alisson Becker, with both closing in on a return.

“Alisson not yet, doesn’t train with us yet but very close to,“ Slot said. “Mo [has] also not trained with us yet but is also, like Ali, getting very, very, very close to training with us.”

Longer-term absentees Hugo Ekitike (achilles), Wataru Endo (foot), Giovanni Leoni (knee), Stefan Bejcetic, Jayden Danns and Conor Bradley (knee), will all be forced to miss the match through injury.

Chelsea

Chelsea also have a growing injury list. Both goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and winger Jesse Derry suffered head injuries in the Blues’ defeat against Nottingham Forest. Concussion protocols mean that neither will be available vs Liverpool.

It’s in wide areas where availability may be an issue for interim manager Calum McFarlane. “Pedro Neto and [Alejandro] Garnacho are both carrying knocks, and it’s unlikely that they will be available,” McFarlane said.

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