Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed that three players are "close" to returning to first-team action ahead of Saturday's Premier League Merseyside derby with Everton.
Unless the two bitter rivals are paired up in the later rounds of this season's FA Cup, Saturday's lunchtime kickoff will mark the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before Everton move to Bramley-Moore Dock.
Liverpool travel across the city with a seven-point lead at the Premier League summit, cut down from nine thanks to their gripping 3-3 draw away to Newcastle United in the midweek round of fixtures.
Federico Chiesa (fitness), Alisson Becker (hamstring), Diogo Jota (abdominal), Ibrahima Konate (knee), Conor Bradley (thigh) and Kostas Tsimikas (ankle) all missed the trip to St James' Park, although the former played 60 minutes and scored in the Under-21s Premier League International Cup clash with Nordsjaelland in midweek.
The Merseyside derby comes too soon for Chiesa to make his senior comeback, though, and the same goes for all of Liverpool's other injury victims, but Jota and Alisson are "close" to returning alongside the Italian attacker.
Liverpool trio edging closer to injury comebacks
© Imago
Asked specifically about Alisson in his pre-game press conference, Slot replied: "Not ready yet, but he will be ready very soon," before delving into his other selection concerns for Saturday's fixture.
"[The midfield line] is not our main worry at the moment, our main worry is if you look at how close they are all back of [having] playing time, there's only three injuries left and that's in our last line.
"With Diogo being close to being back, Federico being close to being back, and the same for Alisson. That means only Ibou [Konate], Conor [Bradley] and Kostas [Tsimikas] are a bit further away from playing time."
With Alisson still missing, Caoimhin Kelleher will guard the sticks for the final league derby at Goodison Park, despite being culpable for Fabian Schar's late leveller in the stalemate with Newcastle.
As well as the six infirm troops, Liverpool will also be working around the absence of midfield fulcrum Alexis Mac Allister, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the Premier League season in the midweek stalemate with Newcastle.
Who will replace Mac Allister in Merseyside derby?
© Imago
The Argentine's regular midfield partner Ryan Gravenberch is also walking a tightrope on four yellows, meaning that he will miss the match with Fulham on December 14 if he is cautioned in the derby, but he is sure to reprise his role.
Curtis Jones appears to be the leading candidate to step in for Mac Allister alongside Gravenberch, allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to operate in a more advanced position, although the Englishman has often occupied a role further forward this term too.
Should Slot opt for more defensive stability in midfield, he has two wildcard candidates available to him - Tyler Morton and Wataru Endo - but the former is yet to make a Premier League appearance this season, while Endo has played just 20 minutes as a substitute.
The Reds boss could also promote Harvey Elliott to the first XI, but the England Under-21 international is also waiting for his maiden top-flight start of the campaign and has played just one minute since recovering from a broken foot.
Ben Knapton
