Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak are both on the bench for Liverpool against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg tonight.
Isak has not played for Liverpool since being injured while scoring in the 2-1 win over Tottenham on December 20, adding to a frustrating start to life on Merseyside following his record summer transfer from Newcastle.
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It was revealed afterwards that the Sweden international had suffered an ankle injury that included a fractured fibula and required surgery.
Isak is now back in full team training and, while he was left out of the matchday squad against Manchester City at the weekend, has travelled with his team-mates to Paris.
“[Isak] finished close to a week of team training sessions now, so he can play a part. Otherwise, I wouldn't take him,” Slot explained in the pre-match press conference.
"I decided not to take him to the Etihad because we felt in talks with the player, medical, performance staff that he wasn't able to get a performance out of him yet.
"And since he's with us now, we do think that we can get a performance out of him now. But not to start – that [would] be clear.".”
Isak has been named on a strong looking Liverpool bench alongside Salah which means Jeremie Frimpong is set play as a right-winger.
After hitting out at the manner in which his side capitulated at the Etihad Stadium, Slot would ideally have liked to ring the changes, but injuries meant his options were rather limited.
Giorgi Mamardashvili keeps his place in goal as Alisson Becker remains sidelined, though Alexis Mac Allister does replace Curtis Jones in midfield.
Hugo Ekitike faces his former club, but may start from the left once again - instead of Cody Gakpo - to allow Florian Wirtz to continue operating centrally after a bright start against Man City.
Confirmed team news
Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ekitike; Wirtz.
Substitutes: Woodman, Misciur, Isak, Salah, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
