After the international break, Liverpool resumes their Premier League campaign with a trip to Southampton on Sunday, with the match scheduled for 14:00 GMT. The Reds will be hoping to maintain the momentum that has seen them take a surprising lead at the top of the Premier League table, holding a five-point advantage.
This comes after a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa and Manchester City’s unexpected 2-1 loss to Brighton, which sees Liverpool also leading in the Champions League group stage.
As they head to St Mary's to face the bottom-placed Saints, Liverpool will be the clear favorites. However, Southampton’s manager Russell Martin will be eager to make sure his team isn't underestimated. Here's an update on the fitness of the players for both teams ahead of the match.
Liverpool Injury Update:
- Alisson Becker – DoubtThe Brazilian goalkeeper has been seen training this week, but his availability will depend on whether the coaching staff feels he is ready to return from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for over a month.
- Harvey Elliott – DoubtThe attacking midfielder has made progress in his recovery from a foot fracture and has resumed training. However, having not played since August, the club may take a cautious approach and give Elliott more time to fully recover.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold – Major DoubtThe vice-captain was forced to leave the pitch early against Villa due to a hamstring issue. He was subsequently withdrawn from the England squad. While the injury isn't expected to be severe, Liverpool may decide to allow Alexander-Arnold additional time to recover before reintroducing him to the team.
- Diogo Jota – OutThe forward has been sidelined for a month with a rib injury. Arne Slot confirmed that Jota could return "one or two weeks after the international break," meaning he’s likely to miss this weekend’s match.
- Federico Chiesa – OutThe summer signing from Juventus has struggled to make an impact at Anfield, having only featured in three matches. The club is working on his recovery, hoping to resolve ongoing issues that have hampered his fitness and prevent further setbacks.