Arne Slot gets HUGE injury boost ahead of Merseyside derby

Liverpool have received a welcome injury BOOST ahead of the Merseyside derby against Everton.

The Reds take on their local rivals on April 2, with Arne Slot’s side requiring 16 points from their final nine Premier League matches of the season in order to wrap up their first title since 2020.

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The side have been flagging in recent weeks - with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate among those suffering injuries.

Meanwhile Alisson Becker and Ryan Gravenberch were both sent back to the AXA Training Centre with injury concerns from international duty with their respective countries.

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But now comes the news that one key player who had been struggling for fitness is now ready to make a significant comeback for the run-in.

Gakpo STRUGGLES with injury

Cody Gakpo has endured a frustrating time of it since being withdrawn against Everton with an ankle knock in February.

He missed the subsequent matches against Wolves and Aston Villa in the Premier League before returning to the squad for games against Manchester City and Newcastle.

The 25-year-old was also absent for the Champions League last-16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain and the following league game against Southampton.

Although the Dutchman made a return to the pitch in the second leg against PSG, as well as the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle, he did so as a substitute.

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Despite that period of inactivity, he was nonetheless called by Ronald Koeman for the Netherlands’ UEFA Nations League quarter-finals against Spain last week.

Gakpo BACK in action

It will come as a relief to Arne Slot and Liverpool fans that Gakpo came through both encounters unscathed.

Gakpo played 90 minutes of the first leg - grabbing his 15th international goal in the process - and managed well over 75 minutes of the second leg before being withdrawn as the Oranje lost on penalties.

And he was statistically among the Netherlands’ best players during both matches, proving that he is ready to start matches for the Reds and influence games once again.

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Gakpo is Liverpool’s second-highest goalscorer this season after Mohamed Salah, scoring 16 goals in 40 games and adding five assists.

With Liverpool facing an intense run of fixtures as the season draws to a close, Gakpo proving his fitness at a crucial time of the season comes as a huge boost to Slot.