slot has confirmed Alexander Isak will be available for Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on 8 April ET. The £125m British-record signing has not played since 20 December and has yet to resume full training after fracturing his leg. Slot said Isak will be an option from the bench as he completes the final stages of his recovery.
Slot on Isak’s return
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool FC, set expectations clearly: “He will be available. ” Slot warned that availability does not equal full sharpness after months out. “The question is what you mean by ‘ready’, ” he said, adding that Isak has not trained with the team even once and will not be ready to start straight away.
Slot outlined the practical limitations around game preparation: Isak would not have joined Sweden for the international break because he is still finalising his rehab, and any immediate club-level match would be managed carefully. Slot stressed that returning players do not move from individual sessions to 45 or 90 minutes of high-intensity action in a single step.
Fitness picture: Brighton, goalkeeping and Konaté abuse
Slot confirmed Mohamed Salah and Alisson will miss Saturday’s league match at Brighton with muscle injuries; Alisson has not travelled and Giorgi Mamardashvili will deputise. Slot did not put a precise timeframe on Salah’s absence but noted the forward will also miss Egypt’s scheduled friendlies during the international break. On defensive fitness, Slot said Ibrahima Konaté is fit to play and added the club has condemned the “vile and abhorrent racist abuse” aimed at Konaté after the win over Galatasaray.
On the squad’s training load, Slot admitted the team had done “close to nothing” in terms of training between recovering from Galatasaray and kicking off at the Amex Stadium, underscoring why careful management of minutes for returning players like Isak is necessary.
What’s next
With the Champions League quarter-final at the Parc des Princes set for 8 April ET, Liverpool will integrate Isak into the matchday squad with measured minutes from the bench rather than expecting him to start. Slot warned the most complete version of Isak is likelier to emerge next season after a full pre-season, but he expects to use Isak in the coming two months. The immediate focus will be monitored training progress, controlled reintroduction to team sessions, and managed game minutes as Isak moves toward full match fitness under Slot’s supervision.
