Liverpool’s preparations for their blockbuster Champions League encounter with Real Madrid have been rocked by another wave of injury setbacks, as manager Arne Slot confirmed that Alexander Isak, Alisson Becker, and Jeremie Frimpong will all miss Tuesday night’s showdown at Anfield.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Slot didn’t leave room for speculation, saying bluntly that all three are not available for tomorrow’s showdown. It’s a blow that couldn’t come at a worse time for the Reds, who are entering one of the most demanding stretches of their season.
Softfootball understands that Isak’s absence, in particular, is frustrating for both the player and supporters. The £125 million summer signing has struggled to build rhythm since joining from Newcastle, sidelined by a groin issue that forced him off during the 5-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt on October 22. Slot admitted his irritation but hinted at cautious optimism in a statement revealed by Liverpool via the team’s official X account.
He said:
All three are not available for tomorrow; Jeremie and Alisson will both also not be available for Sunday.
With Alex we have to wait and see. Definitely not starting on Sunday, but maybe he can be involved in the squad. He is still not training with the team, so we have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, Alisson and Frimpong remain out with hamstring problems suffered in October. Both players have been key to Liverpool’s defensive structure, Alisson as the commanding shot-stopper and Frimpong as a pacey, dynamic presence on the right flank. Slot also confirmed the pair will miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester City, deepening Liverpool’s selection headache.
The absences come at a critical moment, with the Reds facing two high-stakes fixtures in four days. Alisson’s replacement between the posts, likely Caoimhín Kelleher, will once again shoulder heavy responsibility, while the right side of defence could see tactical reshuffling.
A small silver lining for the Merseyside outfit is the return of Curtis Jones to full training, adding some spark to the midfield. Still, with their top striker and two defensive anchors unavailable, Liverpool’s depth and resilience are about to be tested to the limit, and against Real Madrid, that margin for error is razor thin.
