Liverpoolvs.Accrington

The Reds have been working without Szoboszlai since the 3-1 Boxing Day win over Leicester City; the Hungary international has missed their last three games due to a combination of suspension and illness.

Szoboszlai was absent for Wednesday's 1-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, where Quansah started alongside Virgil van Dijk in a much-changed defence.

However, the 21-year-old's race was run with just 30 minutes on the clock, as he sat down inside his own penalty area with what appeared to be a rib or abdominal problem before being taken off for Wataru Endo.

Slot confirmed after the game that Quansah's problems were illness rather than injury-related, though, and the Dutchman is confident that he will be able to feature on Saturday, while Szoboszlai has taken part in practice with the youth team.

Slot provides Quansah, Szoboszlai updates before Accrington Stanley

Speaking in Friday's pre-game press conference, Slot said: "Dom trained with the U21s yesterday. Jarell, like I said, he was a bit ill last week. As a result of that I had to take him off during the game, but I'm expecting him to be available for tomorrow.

"So, yes, we know we can use these players in every single game and also in the one we have on Saturday. Every game is an opportunity for them to have a chance to play. And this one as well."

Should Quansah and Szoboszlai both be passed fit for the third-round showdown, Joe Gomez would be Liverpool's only absentee for Saturday's game; the defender is expected to be out until February with a thigh injury.

However, Gomez would have been unlikely to start against Accrington Stanley, where Slot is expected to ring the changes and hand rare starts to fringe players such as Endo, Tyler Morton and Harvey Elliott.

The latter is set to come into the first XI amid claims that he could seek an exit from Liverpool during the January transfer window due to a lack of playing time, with both Borussia Dortmund and Brighton & Hove Albion apparently showing an interest.

Arne Slot tight-lipped on Liverpool transfer rumours

The contract situations of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are also yet to be resolved, and in terms of potential incomings, the Reds are said to be keeping a close eye on Napoli attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

However, Slot had no interest in discussing which players could leave or join Liverpool this month, saying: "It's January and I think I said it after the West Ham game, don't disappoint me. Please come up with all these clubs and players that are of interest from us or that aren't playing a lot for us going somewhere else.

"That's what's happening now - 99 out of 100 times in the window it's been clear that almost all of these stories weren't true. So what can I comment about it? That's the rumours, keep going for it. But no comments from my side."

Liverpool's January transfer business so far has been limited to a pair of outgoings, as Rhys Williams's loan at Morecambe has been extended until the end of the season, while Brazilian goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga has joined Fluminense on a free transfer.

The Reds did not make a single signing during the winter 2024 window, but they brought Cody Gakpo to the club from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, 12 months on from striking a big-money deal to sign Luis Diaz from Porto.

Written by

Ben Knapton