Arne Slot has confirmed that Liverpool will make a final check on Alisson Becker ahead of the Merseyside derby. But his side is nearing a big boost with the timely return of Conor Bradley.
The young right-back is training with the team again but no decision has been made yet on whether he will play a part against Everton. “We have to make a smart decision with that,” Slot said.
Center-back Joe Gomez was training alone on Monday as he nears a return. Meanwhile, Real Madrid-linked Trent Alexander-Arnold is missing at the moment and won’t be back for a few weeks.
If there is no other right-back option available for Everton, Slot is likely to go with Jarell Quansah in that role again. The young center-back filled in out wide at Wembley against Newcastle United.
Elsewhere, Liverpool has a clean bill of health. Alisson picked up a head injury while playing for Brazil but he has returned to training, while Ryan Gravenberch returned to Merseyside early because of a knock but he has now fully recovered.
“It was maybe a good moment [for an international break] after you lose two games,” Slot said. “You go to your international team and things are new again. Maybe that helped as well.
“It is also nice when players go to a different environment. Lucho Diaz had two goals, Cody Gakpo had a goal, and our players showed themselves in a good way.
“I’ve not seen my players work as hard as they did in the 120 minutes against PSG. Maybe that’s why we looked on tired in the final. When we were fit and Newcastle play like they did, it would still be a very difficult game.
“I don’t think we were tired. Against PSG we were incredible in terms of work-rate and intensity. Most of them had a few days off as well.”
Liverpool returns to Premier League action with the visit of Everton. It then travels to Fulham at the weekend, with Arsenal, it closest challenger in the title race, facing the same two teams this week.
