Alexander Isak’s Return Is Near

Liverpool’s injury-hit season is poised for a significant lift as striker Alexander Isak is expected to rejoin full team training this week, raising the possibility of a surprise cameo in Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City at Anfield. The Sweden international has been sidelined since sustaining a fractured fibula in the 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on 7 December, a setback that initially threatened to rule him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Manager Arne Slot had previously targeted the Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Paris Saint-Germain on 9 April as a realistic return date, but The Guardian report that Isak’s rehabilitation has progressed without complication, potentially accelerating his comeback by several days. Sources close to the club stress that any involvement against City would be “drastically limited”, yet even a short cameo would provide a timely morale boost for a squad that has won only once in its last four outings.

Isak, 24, has scored 11 goals in 19 appearances since joining from Real Sociedad last summer and was beginning to form a potent partnership with Mohamed Salah before his injury. Salah himself is poised to re-enter contention after a minor muscular issue, meaning the Egyptian could feature alongside Isak for the first time since announcing his intention to leave the club at the end of the season.

The news is tempered by continued uncertainty in goal. Alisson, who described his muscle complaint as “minor” last month, posted on social media during the international break that he will be out “for a while”, forcing Georgian keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to continue deputising. Alisson has been ruled out of the City clash and remains doubtful for the trip to the French capital.

Elsewhere, winger Federico Chiesa is awaiting assessment after withdrawing from Italy duty, while centre-back Joe Gomez is expected to be available for selection after nearing a return prior to the break. With Liverpool entering back-to-back high-stakes matches as underdogs, Slot will hope the cavalry arrives just in time to rescue a season that still promises silverware on two fronts.

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