Liverpool’s injury crisis, which has already cost them key personnel in recent weeks, shows signs of easing ahead of Saturday’s crucial clash with Chelsea. However, the partial nature of those returns and the continued absence of two world-class stars could hand Chelsea a significant edge in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.
The 2025 champions were missing their primary goalkeeper and main centre-forward options during last weekend’s defeat to Manchester United. While reinforcements are on the horizon, the timing may prove critical for Arne Slot’s side.
Alexander Isak has returned to training after scoring on his most recent appearance against Crystal Palace. Slot offered a cautious update: “Alex trained with us again, only yesterday for the first time so that’s a positive. Yesterday he did parts of it, so hopefully he can do parts – or everything – today and let’s then see how much we’re going to use him tomorrow.”
Similarly, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, sidelined since suffering a deep cut to his knee in the Merseyside derby victory over Everton on 19 April, will train with the group for the first time on Thursday. “Giorgi will train with us today for the first time so let’s see how he’s going to react,” Slot added.
These developments represent progress for a squad stretched thin. Yet the picture remains far from ideal. First-choice goalkeeper Alisson has not featured since Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Galatasaray in March and has yet to rejoin full training, though he is “very close.” More significantly, Mohamed Salah — arguably the most influential player in the squad — also remains sidelined from group sessions, despite similar encouraging signs of proximity to a return.
With Salah limited to a maximum of just two more appearances in a Liverpool shirt (away at Aston Villa next Friday and the final home game against Brentford on 24 May), his potential absence or heavy restriction against Chelsea represents a major blow to Liverpool’s attacking potency.
Florian Wirtz is expected to be available after missing training midweek with illness, while third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is likely to return to the bench. However, Liverpool will still be without several important squad members, including Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo.
Slot struck a measured tone regarding Bradley’s longer-term recovery, noting the difficulty in predicting his return: “It’s really difficult in the stage where he’s in now to predict exactly when he will be back; that will be by margins. He’s still inside… and that makes it quite complicated to tell how long it’s going to take.”
Analytical Perspective
While Liverpool fans will take heart from Isak and Mamardashvili’s tentative returns, the reality on the ground favors Chelsea. The visitors arrive at a moment when Liverpool’s squad depth is still compromised at the two most critical positions: goalkeeping and elite goalscoring.
Alisson’s absence undermines defensive stability and confidence from the back, while Salah’s missing presence removes Liverpool’s primary source of inspiration, creativity, and clinical finishing. Even if Isak features in some capacity, the lack of synergy and match sharpness after limited training could hinder his impact.
Chelsea, by contrast, face a Liverpool side still managing fitness thresholds rather than operating at full throttle. In a tight Premier League title race or top-four battle context, these marginal disadvantages often prove decisive. London-based observers are already framing this weekend’s fixture as one where Chelsea holds a tangible, if temporary, psychological and tactical upper hand.
Slot will need to navigate delicate minutes management and tactical adjustments. For Chelsea, the opportunity is clear: exploit Liverpool’s transitional vulnerabilities before the champions can fully regroup.
The coming days will reveal exactly how much Isak and Mamardashvili can contribute, but as things stand, Chelsea have been handed a timely opening in one of the season’s most anticipated fixtures.