Image Credits: Imago Images
Arne Slot has spent the build‑up to Liverpool’s Champions League showdown with Galatasaray juggling yet more fitness issues. The head coach confirmed Ibrahima Konate is back to “100%” and ready to start, easing fears after the defender’s recent hamstring scare, but admitted Joe Gomez remains a major doubt for the second leg at Anfield.
Further forward, Alexander Isak is still unavailable despite being spotted in individual training, with Slot stressing the Swede is “getting closer and closer” but not expected back this month. It means Liverpool will again have to lean on the depth of their squad as they look to overturn a first‑leg deficit and keep their European campaign alive.
Amid the first‑team concerns, there is at least a positive bulletin on the academy front.
Highly rated youngster Joshua Abe has confirmed on Instagram that he has undergone successful surgery after the serious leg injury he suffered on England U16 duty, posting a photo from his hospital bed alongside the message “surgery done, hard work starts now.”
The 15‑year‑old forward, who has already been fast‑tracked through Liverpool’s age groups and trained with Slot’s seniors earlier this season, had previously been ruled out for the rest of the campaign in a major blow to his rapid progress.
Liverpool’s medical team now face the task of guiding Abe through a long rehabilitation, but the fact the operation has gone well offers real hope he can return to the levels that made him one of Kirkby’s standout talents.
Before the injury, Abe’s explosive performances – including a hat‑trick against Leeds at U18 level – had drawn admiring glances from several elite clubs and complicated Liverpool’s efforts to tie him down to a scholarship contract that expires at the end of the season.
Arsenal are among the sides known to be monitoring his situation closely, with reports suggesting the teenager’s camp is well aware of interest from the Emirates and beyond.
For now, though, any decision over his long‑term future will be parked while he focuses on recovery and getting back on the grass. Liverpool will hope that the support shown during his time on the sidelines – and the clear pathway to the first team already laid out – convinces Abe that Anfield remains the best place for the next step in his career once he’s fit again.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
