Arne Slot provided an injury update on Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo before Liverpool’s Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield
Paul Gorst and Matthew Abbott
13:14, 12 Dec 2025Updated 13:29, 12 Dec 2025
Liverpool’s Alexander Isak has sustained another injury issue(Image: Image Photo Agency, Getty Images)
Alexander Isak remains a fitness concern ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Arne Slot, however, delivered more encouraging news regarding Federico Chiesa, who the Reds anticipate will re-join their squad this weekend. Isak started the 1-0 triumph over Inter at San Siro, lasting almost 70 minutes in Italy before making way for Florian Wirtz, who earned the crucial late spot-kick that Dominik Szoboszlai dispatched.
Chiesa was absent from the journey to his native country due to illness, but is due to return to training before a potential return at Anfield. Isak, the £125m British transfer record acquisition, will undergo assessment when the squad reassembles at the AXA Training Centre, Slot confirmed. Isak made only his second appearance alongside fellow striker and summer recruit, the £79m Hugo Ekitike, in midweek.
Alexander Isak has scored twice since his £125m transfer to Liverpool from Newcastle United(Image: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
Slot said: “What we all saw, which is completely normal, is that the more they play, the more they will adapt to each other and the better they will cooperate. I think it is fair to say, the other two No.9s on the pitch for Inter, Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, were more used to playing with each other.
“But I also saw promising things from both of them. It’s the second time they have played together, for obvious reasons, match fitness, and I think we will see more of this in the future of them playing together.
“But Alex also got a knock in the first half, so let’s see how he has recovered from that and if he is able to start tomorrow. And if he is able, if I make the decision to start them again, or I do it in a different way.”
Liverpool boss Arne Slot said that Alexander Isak has a knock(Image: Andrew Powell, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Slot also revealed that forward Cody Gakpo has picked up a muscle injury, while midfielder Wataru Endo is battling an ankle issue. The Liverpool head coach said: “Federico is not ill anymore. He trained yesterday, and he trained today again, so I assume he’s ready to be in the squad tomorrow again.
“It’s going to be weeks [out]. With Cody, it’s a muscle injury, and with Wata, it’s an ankle injury.
“I think it is helpful that in the weeks ahead we don’t play as many games until now. I wonder if there have been more teams who have played three games in seven days than us this season?.
“We’ve had to do it three times already this season. So, what can I say about this?
“I am almost happy we are out of the League Cup. If we had to play with [just] 13 outfield players with any Premier League experience, because we have more available, of course, but not many with Premier League experience, and we had to go to Arsenal away on Tuesday again after so many games played.
“Maybe some can understand a little bit better why I made this line-up against Crystal Palace (for a 3-0 home defeat). It wasn’t good for me, but I did this for the team. Losing a game of football is never a good idea, and that is what happened when we were not in our best run of form.
“But sometimes players need rest, Dom Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch; they have played so many minutes because others weren’t available. So it is good for them that we go to a run where there is one week’s rest in between games, and players will come back from injuries, and there is more to choose from as well.”
Conor Bradley is ruled out of the Brighton match due to suspension. Fellow right-back Jeremie Frimpong and centre-back Giovanni Leoni are sidelined with injuries.