Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Cody Gakpo will be ready for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Reds are turning their focus back to European action after moving closer to the Premier League title with a 3-1 victory in Saturday’s home meeting with Southampton.
Darwin Nunez cancelled out Will Smallbone‘s opener, before Mohamed Salah scored a brace of penalties to extend their lead at the top of the table to 15 points.
Slot’s side take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against PSG after Harvey Elliott scored the decisive goal in the French capital last week.
Gakpo was absent for the trip to the Parc des Princes and Saturday’s league win over Southampton due to the recurrence of an ankle issue that had forced him to miss back-to-back games against Wolverhampton and Aston Villa last month.
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Slot provides Gakpo update
However, it was reported that the Netherlands international was deemed fit enough to take part in Monday’s training session.
Slot later confirmed in Monday’s pre-match press conference that Gakpo will feature in the matchday squad for the second leg at Anfield.
“Yeah he will be in the squad,” the Liverpool boss told reporters. “He trained today for the first time.”
However, Gakpo will likely have to settle for a place on the bench, having not started a game since the 2-2 draw against rivals Everton on February 12.
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Slot admits having sleepless nights ahead of second leg
Liverpool relied on Alisson Becker‘s heroics in Paris last week, with the Brazilian goalkeeper making nine crucial saves in the contest.
PSG also racked up 27 shots in the first leg, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saw a first-half goal chalked off for offside.
The Liverpool head coach has admitted that PSG’s performance at the Parc des Princes has left him having sleepless nights ahead of Tuesday’s fixture.
Slot said: “If you have a game like we did last week, you feel like, ‘Can I even go to sleep at all? Or do I have to watch even more?’ So no, I do not dream at all at the moment about this week.”
“This is the most complete team we have faced so far. What I mean with complete is that, OK we have faced Arsenal and City and they are not big margins but the intensity they play at combined with the quality they have and they are one of the richest clubs.
“They have so much quality and a great, great, great manager (Luis Enrique). It is not easy to play against his team, he brings the best out of every player and brings an incredible workrate in the team.”
Liverpool head into the second leg with a strong home record, having won 17 and drawn two of their last 19 competitive home matches since losing to Nottingham Forest in September.
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