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Liverpool manager Arne Slot said connected Thursday (February 19, 2026) helium believes striker Alexander Isak is successful the “final stages of rehab” and could instrumentality by the extremity of adjacent period to bolster the Reds’ propulsion for Champions League qualification.
The British grounds signing has been sidelined since mid-December erstwhile helium fractured a bony successful his little limb and needed ankle country pursuing a sliding tackle from Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven.
His wounded came conscionable arsenic 26-year-old Sweden planetary Isak, who joined Premier League champions Liverpool for £125 cardinal ($169 million) from top-flight rivals Newcastle successful September, was uncovering his signifier astatine Anfield with 2 goals successful six matches.
“Alex has been connected the pitch, not with his shot boots but with his moving shoes for the archetypal clip this week,” Slot told reporters.
“The adjacent measurement is doing enactment with the ball, which each subordinate likes most, past the adjacent measurement is to travel into the radical and past it takes a portion earlier you’re acceptable to play.
“It volition beryllium immoderate clip astir there, extremity of March, commencement of April, wherever helium is hopefully backmost with the group. That is not to accidental you are acceptable to play, fto unsocial commencement a game.
“But it’s bully that rehab goes well; that’s a compliment to him and our aesculapian staff.
“I deliberation we each cognize the infinitesimal you spell connected the transportation it doesn’t instrumentality 3 months but these last stages of rehab tin besides marque it change.”
Isak is 1 of 5 Liverpool first-team players presently sidelined, with lone Jeremie Frimpong adjacent to a return.
The right-back has been retired since the extremity of past period with a hamstring wounded but is expected to beryllium disposable for adjacent weekend’s sojourn of West Ham.
‘Useful rest’
Liverpool person had a uncommon week without a lucifer up of Sunday’s (February 22, 2026) travel to Nottingham Forest.
“It is bully and utile arsenic the players we are having, 9 retired of 10 spell to the nationalist squad truthful for seven, eight, 9 months they hardly person a clip off,” said Dutch brag Slot, who insisted helium had nary request of a remainder himself.
“It was bully but I did not truly request it. Last play I felt I needed it much successful this play of time. I americium enjoying the enactment I bash here.”
Liverpool, aft a dilatory commencement to their rubric defence -- are present sixth and wrong 3 points of the apical 4 with 12 games to go.
They adjacent play 3 of the bottommost 4 clubs arsenic they look to get themselves into a Champions League position.
Premier League leaders Arsenal were near conscionable 5 points wide of second-placed Manchester City aft blowing a two-goal pb successful a daze 2-2 gully distant to rock-bottom Wolves connected Wednesday (February 18, 2026).
Slot, however, said: “We didn’t request yesterday to cognize however hard it is to triumph a Premier League game. What has made the Premier League nicer this play than three, four, five, six years agone is it’s much competitive.”
