Arne Slot has delivered an important fitness update ahead of the Merseyside derby clash with Everton.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, as reported by liverpoolfc.com, the Liverpool manager addressed how his squad is coping with recovery after a demanding week of fixtures.
Isakโs Recovery Under Watch
Slot singled out recent signing Alexander Isak as one player particularly impacted by the congested schedule.
โWe had a recovery session yesterday and will train again this afternoon, so weโll have to see how everyone is feeling,โ Slot said. โWhat I can tell you is that Alex felt the intensity more than ever after the 60 minutes he played. Weโll need to check his condition today before deciding on tomorrowโs line-up.โ
Isak made his Liverpool debut in midweek against Atlรฉtico Madrid, showing encouraging signs despite having had limited minutes over the summer.
Tough Schedule for the Reds
Slot also acknowledged the challenges of a rare three-game stretch in just seven days.
โPlaying three times in a week is nothing new, but to do it Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday is unusual,โ he explained.
The Dutchman emphasized the need to adapt training methods ahead of Saturdayโs early 12:30 PM kick-off at Anfield, following trips to Burnley and Madrid.
โOne of the most effective ways to recover is through sleep, as everyone knows,โ he added with a smile.
With Liverpool having faced two games in the past four days and a fierce derby on the horizon, squad rotation and careful player management will be key. On a positive note, Curtis Jones is back in contention, giving Slot more options as he prepares for one of the seasonโs biggest fixtures.
