Liverpool manager Arne Slot has issued updates on the fitness of his squad for the FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City – including the fitness of Mohamed Salah
11:15, 03 Apr 2026Updated 12:12, 03 Apr 2026
Man City v Liverpool: Arne Slot previews FA cup clash
Mohamed Salah is fit and available to play for Liverpool for the first time since his bombshell revelation that he will leave the club this summer. Arne Slot also refused to rule out that Alexander Isak could be in the squad, as he continues his gradual return to fitness following a broken leg.
During the international break, Salah confirmed via social media that this will be his final season of a legendary stint with Anfield.
The Egyptian will still have 12 months remaining on his contract, but it is understood that he will be allowed to leave on a free transfer, with a move to Saudi Arabia heavily speculated. But before bringing the curtain down on his Liverpool career, he will remain a key part of Arne Slot’s side still battling on three fronts.
The Reds head into a crucial period of the season, starting with tomorrow’s FA Cup quarter final with Manchester City. And Salah has returned to fitness in time to face City, having missed the Premier League defeat to Brighton before the international break.
He was subsequently withdrawn from international duty with Egypt in a bid to recover in time for a pivotal week. Slot has confirmed that after returning to full training this week, he is ready and available to take on Pep Guardiola’s side.
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Mohamed Salah was back in training for Liverpool on Thursday ahead of Man City
Slot said: “Yes he is [available], he trained with us yesterday, he will train with us today and is available for tomorrow.”
Liverpool’s record signing Isak hasn’t featured in 2026, but is back in full training and while him starting is still some way away. “It will definitely be too fast for the starting line up. Yesterday was his first training for 101 days. It will take a bit of time, to give him a lot of minutes, but we will work him carefully. It is great to have him back in training but even better when he is on the field.”
Asked specifically if he could make the squad at all, Slot suggested he could play for a few minutes. Although, it would be difficult for him to play for too many minutes.
Alexander Isak could play for the first time since December(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Jeremie Frimpong and Federico Chiesa will train on Friday to determine their availability for Saturday. Frimpong suffered an injury whilst with the Netherlands, while Chiesa withdrew from the Italy squad.
Liverpool will be without goalkeeper Alisson for the next few weeks, with the Brazilian aiming to return ‘towards the end of the season’. Long term absentees Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain out, while Wataru Endo continues his recovery from ankle surgery.
After the game with City, the Reds will turn their attentions to the Champions League and a mouthwatering clash with holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight. The French champions dumped Liverpool out on penalties on last season, before lifting European football’s biggest prize for the first time.
In between the two legs with PSG, Liverpool will be back in Premier League action, as they look to consolidate their place in the top five of the table – a position which should be enough to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Alisson will also miss Saturday’s FA Cup blockbuster with City(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
It means that Liverpool’s season – which has seen them meekly surrender their Premier League title – could still end with two major trophies, as well as a glorious farewell to Salah.
Signed in 2016, Salah has scored 255 goals for Liverpool, behind only Roger Hunt and record scorer Ian Rush. He was the key part of two title-winning sides, including the one which ended the long wait for a top-flight title in 2020.
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He signed a new two-year contract at the end of last season, but has grown increasingly frustrated during the current campaign. After being dropped out of the starting XI in December, Salah went public with his grievances and said he was being ‘thrown under the bus’ by manager Slot.
The two have since patched things up, with Slot speaking glowingly of his star forward, but that still resulted in his announcement last month.
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