Arne Slot has provided an early update on his Liverpool squad ahead of Saturday’s clash with Newcastle, with Ibrahima Konate expected to return.

Konate has been absent for the last three games having travelled back to France to mourn the death of his father, but the centre-back is due to return for the visit of Newcastle.

Liverpool could also be boosted by the availability of Joe Gomez (hip) and Curtis Jones (illness), though the former’s recovery will be “tight” for the weekend.

“Curtis was sick, so we have to wait and see how it evolves. Joe might be tight,” Slot told reporters after the 6-0 win over Qarabag.

“But hoping and expecting to have Ibou back. I cannot guarantee this, but we are hoping that Ibou will be back with us.”

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Konate’s return would be a major boost as Slot was forced to field Ryan Gravenberch at centre-back in midweek with 19-year-old Amara Nallo coming off the bench in the second half.

Provided he is fully fit, it would allow the No. 5 to rejoin Virgil van Dijk as the main pairing while Nallo and perhaps Gomez could provide cover from the bench.

Slot has more issues at right-back, with Jeremie Frimpong already ruled out against Newcastle after picking up a suspected groin injury at the start of Wednesday’s win.

That could see Wataru Endo – considered cover at both centre-back and right-back along with his natural midfield role – make his first start in over three months on the right side of defence.

Wataru Endo at right-back: Arne Slot gives verdict on Qarabag performance

“[It was] positive, as we’re used to from Wata. You give him a job and he does it with all he’s got,” was Slot’s verdict.

“Today he did really well.

“What you lack a little bit if you play him over there is you don’t have as many overlaps or one-vs-one quality as maybe Jeremie Frimpong has, but what he does is so decent and concentrated and focused.

“The good thing of course was also today that we were only attacking; that’s helpful that you have only attacking players on the pitch.

“So the real test for our last line, if we have to play with the same one again, is if you face Newcastle and Manchester City, who I rate a bit above Qarabag.”

The Big Debate
Should Wataru Endo start at right-back vs. Newcastle and Man City?

With Jeremie Frimpong sidelined and Wataru Endo filling in as a makeshift defender, should the Japan international be trusted in the back line for the next two games?

Join the conversation: Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League and in the Champions League under head coach Arne Slot but he can't escape pressure with Xabi Alonso linked as his successor

Liverpool sit sixth in the Premier League and in the Champions League under head coach Arne Slot but he can't escape pressure with Xabi Alonso linked as his successor

Arne Slot is still facing speculation over his future as Liverpool head coach despite thrashing Qarabag 6-0 to progress from the Champions League.

But The Athletic‘s James Pearce reports after that victory at Anfield that, though the Dutchman has already ruled out a title defence, “there’s faith internally that he will turn things around.”

Slot is “not on the brink” even though “the pressure is real,” with Pearce highlighting a number of factors.

Chiefly, it is explained that unlike when Man United sacked Ruben Amorim and Chelsea parted ways with Enzo Maresca, Liverpool’s hierarchy still hold a positive relationship with their head coach.

That includes sporting director Richard Hughes, whose bond with Slot “remains strong,” while it is even claimed that the internal feeling is that “this was always likely to be a transitional campaign.”

Richard Hughes’ “strong” bond and “no buyer’s remorse”

Liverpool have acknowledged the difficulties faced this season, not least the ever-growing list of absentees, and there is “no buyer’s remorse” after their £446.2 million summer spend.

Of course there remains a caveat that this is Fenway Sports Group’s current stance and the onus is on Slot to correct his side’s domestic form.

After the win over Qarabag – which ensured the Reds avoid a two-legged playoff in February – the Reds will not leave the UK for any fixtures until March 10/11.

That gives Slot and his players around a month-and-a-half, and six league games, to turn their winless run around and push for a more comfortable top-four placing.

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There remain clear concerns with the style of play employed this season and supporters are understandably frustrated with the head coach’s approach in the media.

But those are seemingly not shared by those within the boardroom, with their belief that Slot is “still the same coach who previously hit such heights.”

Liverpool are claimed to have made contact with Xabi Alonso over potentially taking over at the end of the season, though sources on Merseyside are yet to substantiate those reports.

Liverpool expected to make decision on Arne Slot in the summer amid Xabi Alonso links

However it has been maintained by Pearce’s colleague David Ornstein – speaking on Sky Sports’ The Transfer Show – that any decision over Slot’s future would be made in the summer.

That comes at a timely juncture as by that point he will have entered the final year of his contract – which runs, along with many of his staff as well as both Hughes and Michael Edwards – to June 2027.

If the situation is still the same and Liverpool have buckled in the Champions League after their impressive league phase, it may force a tough call from the higher-ups in FSG.

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Liverpool's injury problems deepened on Wednesday, with Jeremie Frimpong adding to Arne Slot's worries in defense after limping off just minutes into the win over Qarabag

James Findlater Content Editor

09:46, 29 Jan 2026

Jeremie Frimpong was forced off during Liverpool's win over Qarabag(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool has secured its safe passage through to the last-16 in the Champions League - although the club’s injury crisis has deepened after Wednesday’s win over Qarabag.

There were plenty of positives to take during the 6-0 win at Anfield, including a first Liverpool goal in nearly three months for Mohamed Salah, but Jeremie Frimpong’s early withdrawal did put a dampener on proceedings.

The 25-year-old’s injury adds to the Reds’ woes at the moment, with Arne Slot having already been forced to play Ryan Gravenberch alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defense - although the Liverpool boss has indicated that Ibrahima Konate could return from compassionate leave soon.

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah makes Liverpool feelings clear immediately after ending goal droughtREAD MORE: 'I'll be back' - Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed Liverpool return plan

Things don’t look too promising on the injury front at the moment though. Here is the latest ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Newcastle...

Jeremie Frimpong

Liverpool faces a nervous wait to find out the full extent of Frimpong's injury after the Netherlands international was forced off just three minutes into Wednesday's game against Qarabag.

Frimpong appeared to be holding his hamstring as he went down, which isn't too promising a sign. He missed around two months of action earlier in the season with the same sort of injury.

"It's a muscle injury, but I don't know how long that is going to be," Slot said after the game. "It's a muscle so it's not a knee [injury] and a muscle usually has to do with overloading a player. Not always, of course, because he stretched in the moment, but it is the risk."

Possible return date: Unknown

Joe Gomez

Slot is hopeful that he will have Joe Gomez back soon after his injury at Bournemouth, although the Liverpool boss has admitted it will be "tight" as to whether he will be back in time to face Newcastle this weekend.

Joe Gomez makes his way off the pitch after picking up an injury in Liverpool's game against Bournemouth(Image: Getty Images)

The defender collided with Alisson Becker during the weekend defeat to the Cherries, and was unable to continue, although Slot has since played down the severity of the injury.

"Joe might be tight," Slot said on Wednesday when asked whether Gomez could return against Newcastle. "[I am] hoping and expecting to have Ibou [Konate] but I cannot guarantee this yet, but we are hoping Ibou will be back with us. Joe will be tight."

Possible return date: January 31 vs Newcastle

Curtis Jones

It was illness rather than injury that forced Curtis Jones out of Wednesday's win over Qarabag. The midfielder should therefore hopefully be back in action soon.

"Curtis was sick, so we have to wait and see how it evolves," Slot said after the game.

Possible return date: January 31 vs Newcastle

Alexander Isak

Alexander Isak is still expected to return before the end of the season, although the striker still faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking his leg against Tottenham last month.

The striker had to undergo surgery on a fractured fibula following Micky van de Ven's challenge, meaning he is likely to be out for another month or two at this stage.

Possible return date: April/May

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Conor Bradley

We won't be seeing Conor Bradley in a Liverpool shirt again this season, with the right-back having been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign following his knee injury at Arsenal.

Having undergone surgery soon after, the Northern Ireland international faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup, should his country make it through the play-offs in March.

Possible return date: 2026/27 season

Giovanni Leoni

Giovanni Leoni has been spotted in some recent videos from Liverpool's training ground, although fans shouldn't get their hopes up about seeing him back before the end of the season.

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The young defender is still expected to miss the rest of the campaign following his ACL injury, and will need to complete an extensive rehab programme before a return can be considered.

Possible return date: 2026/27 season

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Virgil van Dijk was a serious attacking threat during Liverpool's victory over Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday night, assisting goals for three of his teammates

Liverpool.com

09:40, 29 Jan 2026

Virgil van Dijk during Liverpool's win over Qarabag(Image: 2026 Ben Roberts - Danehouse)

Virgil van Dijk became the first central defender in Champions League history to register three assists in a single game during Liverpool's win over Qarabag on Wednesday.

Van Dijk assisted Alexis Mac Allister, Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa as the Reds romped to a 6-0 win at Anfield. The Dutchman's first assist came as his header from a corner was converted by Mac Allister, before Ekitike latched onto a clearance by the Liverpool captain and went on to score.

Van Dijk's final assist of the game came during the final few minutes, as he slid Chiesa in to score Liverpool's sixth goal of the game.

READ MORE: Arne Slot issues furious response as Liverpool boss faces backlash after PSG claimREAD MORE: Arne Slot reveals Liverpool transfer stance on defenders after Jeremie Frimpong injury

The victory secured Liverpool a third-place finish in the Champions League league phase, and ensured the Reds will play the second leg of their last-16 tie at home.

Speaking in a post-game press conference, Arne Slot talked up the importance of Liverpool securing the win it needed to avoid a two-legged play-off to make it into the competition's knockout phase.

"It's what you want if you start the Champions League season – you want to finish top eight," Slot said. "Tha t helps, of course, because you skip a round and sometimes you can have a really hard team to play against in a round like that.

"So, we are happy that we are going straight away to the last 16, especially because it's only two years ago that we were playing Europa League and we went out in the quarter-finals against Atalanta. So, two seasons in a row now being in the last 16, and last season we were very hungry for more and we will definitely be hungry for more this season as well."

It wasn't a perfect night for Liverpool, as Jeremie Frimpong was forced off with an injury, but Arne Slot played down the idea of the Reds dipping into the transfer market in the final few days of the window to deal with the squad's fitness issues.

“As a club, we always make decisions - what we think are smart decisions - not only in the short term but the long term, which is why we sign younger players," Slot said.

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“It always depends on whether there are players available that we think can help us. If there are, can we afford them?

“And is this also helpful for the longer-term future, because our players come back from injury as well. I just said that we don't have a squad where we have four right-backs and 12 midfielders and three or four no.9s.

“That's not how it works over here. So we have to do smart things for the near future, but also for the longer future. Let's first see how Jeremie is.”

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Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return to Liverpool as Arne Slot continues to come under pressure at Anfield, and one of his former teammates has given him his backing

James Findlater Content Editor

09:33, 29 Jan 2026

Xabi Alonso has been linked with a return to Liverpool after being fired by Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)

Xabi Alonso’s former teammate Javi Martinez has made the case for him to take over from Arne Slot at Liverpool.

Having been fired by Real Madrid earlier this month, Alonso has seen his name being linked with a return to Anfield as Slot continues to come under pressure.

Although Liverpool secured its safe passage through to the last-16 of the Champions League with a resounding 6-0 win over Qarabag on Wednesday, the Reds’ poor Premier League form has seen the heat being turned up on Slot, with their hopes of defending last season’s title already long gone and a top four spot far from assured.

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah makes Liverpool feelings clear immediately after ending goal droughtREAD MORE: 'I'll be back' - Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed Liverpool return plan

With just five wins from his last 18 league games in charge, Slot is coming under pressure from some supporters - and he hasn’t helped himself with some of his recent comments either.

As such, speculation has been growing that Alonso could take over from him soon, and Martinez - who played alongside him for Bayern Munich and Spain - has given his former teammate his backing.

“It’s normal that some names come on the table,” Martinez told beIN Sports. “I heard also about Xabi Alonso, not from him - I’m not saying anything!”

Xabi Alonso has been tipped to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Asked whether he thinks Alonso would be a good fit at Liverpool, Martinez responded: “Yeah I think so. I think the team and Liverpool needs a change.

“Xabi Alonso is a young coach, he brings a lot of new things. It’s like the ‘Pep school’, how he likes to play, the way the Cesc Fabregas, Pep [Guardiola], this new school.

“I think it would be a perfect match in Xabi Alonso and Liverpool.”

Despite being fired by Real after less than eight months in charge, Alonso’s reputation doesn’t seem to have been damaged too much.

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The 44-year-old was dismissed following defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final, although his exit had been on the cards for a while amid growing tensions with some members of his squad.

“Yeah, I don’t know what happened,” Martinez said on Alonso’s time at the Bernabeu. “I didn’t speak to him, I sent a message but he didn’t answer!

“It was sure that he would be a success at Real Madrid, [but] Real Madrid is a special club. I’m sure if you bring Pep Guardiola in, he would not be successful.

Article continues below

“I think, for example, we saw with [Jose] Mourinho, he managed much better with the club, [Carlo] Ancelotti for example. I think they play better when the coach gives more freedom.”

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Liverpool have confirmed their place in the round of 16 in the Champions League by landing a top-eight place in the league phase, but the potential draw ahead of them left Jamie Carragher annoyed

Liverpool have confirmed their place in the round of 16 in the Champions League by landing a top-eight place in the league phase, but the potential draw ahead of them left Jamie Carragher annoyed

Hugo Ekitike was on top-form across social media as he sent a message to Liverpool teammate Ryan Gravenberch

Hugo Ekitike was on top-form across social media as he sent a message to Liverpool teammate Ryan Gravenberch

Steven Gerrard has given his view on Arne Slot's Liverpool future and the comments he made ahead of his side's Champions League win over Qarabag

Steven Gerrard has given his view on Arne Slot's Liverpool future and the comments he made ahead of his side's Champions League win over Qarabag

Liverpool romped to a 6-0 victory at home to Qarabag, as the media focused on a strong showing from both the team and individuals.

Arne Slot really needed this. Liverpool cruised into the last 16 of theChampions League on Wednesday and will face Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Juventus or Atletico Madrid.

The media have been assessing Liverpool’s win, so here’s the best of the reaction.

This was much more like it from Liverpool

After rightly being a vocal critic of late, David Lynch was full of praise for a much improved showing:

“You can say it’s only Qarabag (and they drew with Chelsea this season, by the way), but how many times have Liverpool so convincingly dispatched an opponent this season?

“A fantastic performance and result to take them straight through to the Champions League knockouts.”

Andy Hunter of the Guardian compared Liverpool’s fun in the Champions League to their woes in the Premier League:

“Liverpool are having to stomach ‘a very bad cocktail’ of cheap goals against and wasted chances in the Premier League, according to Arne Slot.

“To extend the mixologist’s analogy, his team are enjoying life with a few margaritas in the Champions League.”

The Athletic‘s Andy Jones echoed those thoughts:

“Despite the issues Liverpool continue to have in the Premier League, they are having a much better time in Europe.

“The win this evening made it three successive victories in the group phase.

“Where the physicality and setup of opponents have stumped them at the weekends, they have been able to piece together competent 90-minute performances in Europe.”

Liverpool had 38 shots against Qarabag, the most by a single side in a #UCL game in the last 10 seasons. ? https://t.co/MtMpmVOk00

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 28, 2026

BBC Sport‘s Phil McNulty isn’t yet fully convinced that Liverpool have turned a corner, though:

“Liverpool made sure early on there would be no shocks or mistakes by setting up the victory with two early goals.

“Liverpool’s win does not answer many of the questions that still surround Slot after so many poor performances, but this win, and the place in the last 16 that goes with it, will not do self-confidence or self-belief any harm – and the Dutch head coach will welcome that.”

Numerous Liverpool players caught the eye

Opta’s Michael Reid pointed out the great on-pitch relationship between Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike:

“Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike have now assisted each other 5 times in all competitions this season – the most by two players aged 23 and younger for Liverpool since Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard in 2002-03 (6).”

Writing for This Is Anfield, James Nalton focused on a good night for Mohamed Salah:

“Salah has regularly taken free-kicks for Liverpool during his time at the club, but he has never scored one.

“As well as being a rare free-kick goal – though it won’t officially be classified as such – it was his first goal for Liverpool of any type since November 1.

“The Egyptian will take confidence from the excellent strike, as it has not looked like there has been confidence in some of his other attempts this season.”

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Meanwhile, Mike McGrath of the Telegraph bemoaned Jeremie Frimpong‘s injury, wondering if an emergency signing is needed:

“After spending more than £400m in the summer, it has been a quiet January for Liverpool but an injury to Jeremie Frimpong has deepened their defensive crisis and only strengthened the argument for them to enter the transfer market.

“They have a history of an emergency defensive signing at Anfield, with Steven Caulker’s loan coming out of the blue a decade ago.

“More recently, a shortage of centre-backs led them to move for Preston’s Ben Davies and Schalke’s Ozan Kabak in 2021.”

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Latest Liverpool transfer news and rumours, including updates on Dayot Upamecano, Jens Hjerto-Dahl, Jeremy Jacquet, Arne Slot, Steven Gerrard, Federico Chiesa and more

Latest Liverpool transfer news and rumours, including updates on Dayot Upamecano, Jens Hjerto-Dahl, Jeremy Jacquet, Arne Slot, Steven Gerrard, Federico Chiesa and more

Liverpool sent a number of players out on loan during the summer transfer window, but not all of those players have enjoyed their time away from Anfield

Liverpool sent a number of players out on loan during the summer transfer window, but not all of those players have enjoyed their time away from Anfield

Liverpool are facing an injury crisis at the back with Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez sidelined, while Ibrahima Konate continues to deal with a family matter

Liverpool are facing an injury crisis at the back with Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez sidelined, while Ibrahima Konate continues to deal with a family matter