Nine Liverpool Players Embark on Extra Training as Salah, Isak Near Return

Nine Liverpool players will miss international matches during the March break because of injury or illness. The absences expose a deepening fitness crisis at Anfield. Filmogaz.com examines the key details.

Club context and upcoming fixtures

Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League. They trail leaders Arsenal by 21 points with seven games left. A maximum of 21 points remain in the season.

The Reds reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. They face Manchester City on Saturday, April 4. Liverpool also booked a Champions League quarter-final spot after a 4-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray.

The Champions League tie against PSG will take place in early April. Manager Arne Slot has said availability will be assessed ahead of that match.

Injury overview and internationals affected

Several senior players will miss national call-ups in March. Others have stayed at the club for rehabilitation and extra training. The list below outlines the cases confirmed by the club and managers.

Players ruled out or doubtful

• Alisson Becker — Sidelined since a September hamstring injury suffered against Galatasaray. Slot confirmed he will miss the international break while working to return for the PSG tie.
• Conor Bradley — Suffered knee bone and ligament damage against Arsenal in January. He is out for the season and will miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier on March 26.
• Wataru Endo — Left the pitch on a stretcher with an ankle problem in February versus Sunderland. He has undergone surgery and is unlikely to play before the summer.
• Mohamed Salah — Withdrawn late in the Galatasaray match and missed the following league game. He will not join Egypt for friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Spain.
• Giovanni Leoni — Tore an ACL on his debut in the Carabao Cup in September. He remains unavailable for Italy’s match with Northern Ireland.
• Jayden Danns — Dealing with a minor hamstring problem. He faces around three to four weeks on the sidelines.
• Stefan Baĵčetić — Has not played since a hamstring injury while on loan last season. Slot reported repeated setbacks in his recovery.
• Alexander Isak — Fractured his leg in December against Tottenham. Slot says he expects to use the striker for minutes against PSG, indicating Isak is near return.
• Federico Chiesa — Called into Italy but withdrew early from the squad due to illness. Manager Gennaro Gattuso accepted his decision to return home.

Implications for Liverpool and national teams

The absences will force Liverpool to rely on depth in coming weeks. Squad rotation will be crucial in the FA Cup and Champions League ties.

International teams also lose key options. Sweden will travel to Ukraine on March 26 without Isak. Northern Ireland face Italy on the same date without Conor Bradley.

Manager comments and timeline

Slot has publicly outlined recovery aims for several players. He suggested Alisson will return only after the international window. He also said Isak can provide minutes against PSG.

Gattuso described Chiesa’s withdrawal as a decision based on wellbeing. Liverpool will monitor all recoveries closely ahead of early April fixtures.

Filmogaz.com will continue to track fitness updates as the club prepares for a crucial run of matches.