Arne Slot delivers Liverpool injury boost ahead of Nottingham Forest visit

Arne Slot has taken to the media before welcoming Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

Following the conclusion of the first international break of the year, Slot's Liverpool have their eyes set on extending their perfect start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Victories over Ipswich Town, Brentford and rivals Manchester United see Liverpool sit at the summit of the Premier League table alongside Manchester City, who have also enjoyed a flawless start - though the Reds are the only team yet to concede a goal thus far.

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In Friday's press conference, Slot provided the latest on the injury front at Anfield with Harvey Elliott having fractured his foot with England U21s whilst fears have mounted regarding Alexis Mac Allister's fitness after sustaining an adductor injury in Argentina's 3-0 triumph over Chile last week.

Slot outlined that the injury to Elliott is as much of a blow to the team as it is for the 21-year-old who was in line to get much more game time in the upcoming fixtures.

Slot acknowledges Elliott injury blow

"Harvey is of course a big disappointment for him but not only for him, also for us because OK, he didn’t play that much in the first three games but he played a lot in pre-season and he showed himself really well so, of course, if he had stayed fit he would have had a lot of playing time in the upcoming fixtures.

"But now he isn’t [fit] and that also gives the chance to someone else. So it is, first and foremost, a blow for himself, and then also for us because I think availability is important in the stage of the season when we play seven games in 22 days, I think," Arne Slot said.

However, there was some positivity regarding Mac Allister's fitness with Slot confident that any concerns over the Argentine's fitness should be left behind with the midfielder expected to be a part of the squad for tomorrow's game.

"He was out in the last game [Mac Allister came off the bench for Argentina on Tuesday night] but he trained with us yesterday. I’m expecting Macca to be with us tomorrow," Slot added.

A potential Anfield debut awaits for Chiesa

After joining Liverpool from Juventus in a £12.5 million deal, Federico Chiesa was deemed not fit enough to be selected for Liverpool's trip to Old Trafford two weeks ago.

The winger spoke to Italy boss Luciano Spalletti about staying on Merseyside to do specific preparation work rather than be selected for the national team.

Slot is yet to confirm whether he will be selected for Saturday's game but is yet to rule out a potential Anfield debut for Liverpool's latest recruit.

"Federico has trained with the team now three or four times so let’s see how he does today and which decision I make because we have more than 20 players, for if I choose for a position or if I choose the ones that are the fittest at the moment," Slot revealed.