A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Arne Slot manages two injury blows ahead of hosting Bologna and Mohamed Salah decides on a potential transfer option he has.
Arne Slot ‘not expecting’ Federico Chiesa to be fit to face Bologna
Reds boss Arne Slot has admitted he is ‘not expecting’ Federico Chiesa to be fit for the visit of Bologna in the Champions League after the Liverpool forward reported an injury. But the Dutchman believes the Italy winger could make a quick recovery to face Crystal Palace next.
Slot offered an update on Chiesa’s fitness during his pre-game press conference on Tuesday and raised concern for the Liverpool star’s involvement. While Chiesa was able to train with the Reds squad on Monday, the 26-year-old began to feel discomfort so will now need rest.
Chiesa has faced a slow adaptation to life at Liverpool since joining from Juventus in August, with fitness one issue after being excluded from the Bianconeri’s pre-season plans. Through his first three outings, the forward has one goal but will not add to his tally against Bologna.
Slot said: “Federico trained yesterday, came in today with some problems and I’m not expecting him to be in the team tomorrow. It’s a pity for us but for him even more, he was looking forward to a Champions League night at Anfield, especially against an Italian team.
“It’s difficult to say [how long he’ll miss] because it was yesterday, but I’m not expecting him to be out for a very long period of time. For this game it’s not possible for him and we have to wait and see if he’ll be in the team for Crystal Palace.”
Read more about what Slot has had to say about Chiesa’s injury at Liverpool, here.
Diogo Jota could face Bologna despite missing training through injury
Liverpool might have Diogo Jota available for their Champions League clash with Bologna on Wednesday night despite him suffering a foot injury. That is according to Sky Sports reporter Vinny O’Connor, who notes that the 27-year-old may play despite failing to train on Tuesday.
Jota sat out the Reds’ session at the AXA Training Centre just as a precaution after Liverpool sent the forward for scans. He suffered a heavy knock during the Reds’ 2-1 win at Wolves on Saturday to make Jota’s involvement in Europe a major doubt but the scans came back clear.
It is unlikely that head coach Arne Slot will elect to start Jota when Liverpool host Bologna at Anfield, despite him avoiding a serious injury, however. The Portuguese is an option for their bench at most after scoring three goals and assisting a further two in seven games this term.
Read more about the news on Jota’s foot injury ahead of Liverpool hosting Bologna, here.
Mohamed Salah’s future likely lies with a transfer to Saudi Arabia
What future Mohamed Salah holds with Liverpool remains in doubt with the Egyptian in the last nine months of his contract. But it is unlikely that the 32-year-old will have any future in the Premier League if it is not with the Merseyside natives, should he opt to leave next year.
That is according to Graeme Bailey, who has exclusively told Rousing The Kop that Salah is in the mindset of wanting to help grow Arab football in the Middle East and have a purposeful impact in the Saudi Arabian Pro League. He is also not a target of the top Spanish sides now.
La Liga’s big names could come forward if Salah leaves Liverpool as a free agent but are not actively exploring a Bosman deal. So, a move to the Middle East is the Egyptian’s most likely next step. Salah joined Liverpool back in 2017 and has so far scored 216 goals in 357 games.
Read more about what Bailey has told Rousing The Kop about Salah’s future, here.
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