-Credit:Getty Images
Liverpool’s players have been hard at work as they prepare for another huge Premier League clash on Tuesday night.
The Reds make the trip to Nottingham Forest, which has become a crucial fixture in this season’s title race. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sits just six points behind Liverpool, and of course holds the distinction of being the only side to beat them in the league this season.
Arne Slot has insisted Forest is in the title race, although his opposite number isn’t too sure about that. One thing is for certain though – this game could have a huge bearing on who is crowned as champion, with the Reds having the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Tottenham on Wednesday.
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Cameras were at the AXA Training Centre on Monday to capture Liverpool’s final training session ahead of tomorrow’s game. Here’s what Liverpool.com spotted.
Szoboszlai and Konate boosts
Dominik Szoboszlai’s return against Accrington Stanley came as a big boost for Liverpool. Slot would likely have preferred to rest him for the FA Cup clash, but having missed the last two games through illness, it was important to get some minutes back into his legs.
Having Ibrahima Konate back against Manchester United was also a welcome sight, especially now with Joe Gomez set to be out for an extended spell.
Dominik Szoboszlai during Liverpool training -Credit:Getty Images
Liverpool has certainly missed both players – Szoboszlai’s absence against United and Tottenham perhaps demonstrated perfectly just how important he is to this side now. Both were involved in training, as expected, and will no doubt play some part against Forest tomorrow – more than likely starting – in what will be a vital game if the Reds are to win the title this season.
No sign of Nunez
Darwin Nunez will miss tomorrow’s clash after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against United, with that game providing the cut-off point for suspensions for Liverpool.
What might be slightly concerning for the Reds though is that there appeared to be no sign of the Uruguay international during training, or at least not in the pictures released by the club.
Whether that is a case of Slot not wanting a player who isn’t going to be involved being in the mix, a new injury concern, or simply the photographer not getting a shot of Nunez, we don’t know at this stage. Hopefully it isn’t the middle of those options.
Chiesa shows his class
Anfield finally got another glimpse of what Federico Chiesa can do on Saturday as he scored his first goal for the club. It was the first time since September that Liverpool’s home crowd got to see the Italian in action.
He certainly looked lively, and while it was only against League Two opposition, he did show why he is considered one of the biggest talents in Europe. The problem has been just getting him out on the pitch.
Thankfully, he does look to be building up his fitness, and he was looking sharp in training as he took part in some shooting drills.
It might still be a while until we truly see the best of Chiesa at Liverpool, and with Mohamed Salah ahead of him in the pecking order on the right wing, he isn’t likely to get too many opportunities to impress this season.
But, if he can stay fit now, hopefully he can start showing why Liverpool decided to make the move for him during the summer, and put some of those rumors suggesting he could be heading back to Italy soon to bed.
Morton transfer hint
Tyler Morton suggested he could be on the move soon when he spoke after starting Saturday’s win over Accrington. The midfielder has found game time hard to come by this season, having been linked with a move away from Anfield during the summer.
“This month’s obviously a big month for myself,” Morton told LFCTV. “It’s decision time and I think I’m ready to kick on and be a proper professional. Definitely I’m ready to kick on now and move up a step.
“If that’s here, if that’s somewhere else, I think football’s football and I’ve got to be a bit selfish and go with however I feel.”
For now, it seems he is still firmly part of Slot’s plans, with the 22-year-old in the thick of it during training again ahead of tomorrow’s game.