Liverpool news

 Alexander Isak injury update awaited as Liverpool's Champions League picture becomes clear

A look at how Liverpool could line up when they entertain Brentford on Sunday in the final game of the Premier League season .

The results of Brighton and Bournemouth in the coming days will likely have a big influence on Arne Slot's Liverpool team selection against Brentford next week.
The Reds conclude their tired, underwhelming campaign with a visit from Keith Andrews's side and by the time that game kicks off on Sunday, they will know if they have to get a result or not to secure Champions League football.
On a run of just one point from the last nine, the prospect of a woefully out-of-form Liverpool needing something from the final day to book their place in the Champions League next term is a worrying one for supporters.
But with Brighton being hosted by Leeds United on Sunday before Bournemouth meet Manchester City at home on Tuesday, Slot faces a nervous wait to find out what exactly is needed on May 24 at Anfield.

Should Champions League qualification already be confirmed, then Anfield might just turn into something of a testimonial for Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson and a tense season, fraught with setbacks and frustration might just ebb away for one afternoon only.

Salah is expected to start after playing a part in the second half of Friday's 4-2 loss at Aston Villa on Friday after missing two games due to a hamstring issue. The Egyptian worked overtime to ensure he could say goodbye by playing for the club one more time, promising an emotional affair for the third highest goalscorer of all time on Merseyside.
The same goes for Robertson, who will likely be given the nod ahead of Milos Kerkez should the game not having any jepoardy riding on it. The Scotland captain, alongside his good friend Salah, will leave as a legend of the club and supporters will be desperate to make the day as memorable as possible for two stalwarts of the modern era.

Elsewhere, Alexander Isak is no guarantee to return after missing Friday's game with was described as a minor issue. The £125m striker's attempts to end the season on a high after an injury and fitness-plagued first campaign on Merseyside have been ruined in recent weeks and Slot was refusing to declare that Isak would feature against the Bees.
There is definitely a chance," Slot said after Friday's loss at Aston Villa. "He missed pre-season as we all know and then he broke his leg, we have tried to be as careful as we could with him, taking into account that our other No.9, Hugo Ekitike, is out for such a long time.
"So we needed Isak as a result of that even more so we have tried to be as careful as we could.

"I don’t think it could come to anyone as a surprise that if you miss your pre-season and then break your leg that minor injuries can occur if you then start into Premier League games in that intensity.
Just a bit of bad luck for him that in a moment of time he comes back, then Hugo (Ekitike) gets injured and we need him more. I expect him to train with us this week but, yeah, I cannot give any guarantees."

If Isak is not cleared for a comeback, Cody Gakpo will likely start up top in his place but the Netherlands international has cut a disinterested figure of late with a couple of listless performances against Chelsea and Villa in the No.9 role. Gakpo, as much as anyone, needs the summer to switch off and recharge.

The same applies to Alexis Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz's return at Villa Park means Slot has five midfielders vying for what will be either three or four spots, depending on the system used that day. Salah's return means it will likely be five going into three, with Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai all competing for a place.

Rio Ngumoha is in line to start a third successive Premier League game which would see him overtake Michael Owen as the most used player at Liverpool under the age of 18 in the Premier League. The pair are currently level on 18 apiece, which is an indication of how highly the teenage winger is rated at Anfield.
It will be interesting to see what happens in goal. Alisson Becker told his 1.5m X followers on April 3 that his plan was to be back "in full playing condition" by the end of last month. However, over a fortnight into May, the Brazil international's absence continues.

Talk of Juventus's interest hasn't subsided and this game could also be Alisson's final one as a Liverpool player too, should he feature. It would be a desperately disappointing way to end his decorated career on Merseyside if he has already played his final game for the Reds. Slot will be able to provide an update on that situation next week.

Jeremie Frimpong's injury was also said to be minor but Reds boss Slot will provide a more comprehensive update on his fellow Dutchman in his pre-match press conference.