Liverpool’s recent fixture congestion has been marred by injury and illness, but manager Arne Slot remains hopeful heading into their upcoming FA Cup match against Accrington Stanley. After struggling with key absences, Slot provided a positive update on Dominik Szoboszlai and Jarell Quansah ahead of Saturday’s early kickoff.
Liverpool’s midfield has felt the absence of Szoboszlai during their last two crucial fixtures. Slot has had to rely on a consistent trio of players in the Hungarian’s absence, including during the recent encounters with Manchester United and Tottenham. Szoboszlai’s absence was attributed to illness, which also disrupted Quansah’s participation early in the League Cup defeat at Spurs earlier this week. However, Slot delivered encouraging news on both players ahead of the weekend.
Speaking on Friday, Slot said, “Dom trained with the U21s yesterday. Jarell, like I said, was a bit ill last week, and as a result of that, I had to take him off, but I’m expecting him to be available tomorrow [Saturday].”
The news comes as a relief to Liverpool fans, with both players set to rejoin the first team. Ideally, Szoboszlai would have resumed full training with the senior squad earlier, but travel disruptions following Wednesday’s clash in north London—forced by icy fog—meant their session had to be canceled. Liverpool’s return journey to Merseyside was delayed, with the squad only arriving back in the early hours of Thursday morning, limiting their preparation time to a single session on Friday.
Slot’s tactical approach for the FA Cup match will undoubtedly reflect the squad’s limited preparation time. He has signaled plans to rotate his side, providing opportunities for several fringe players to showcase their talents. Speaking to reporters, Slot explained, “Every game is an opportunity for them to have a chance to play, and this one as well. We know we can use these players in every single game, and also the one we have on Saturday.”
Several squad members are likely to get a chance to feature, including goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, defender Jarell Quansah, midfielders Harvey Elliott and Wataru Endo, along with Federico Chiesa. Slot could also introduce James McConnell and Jayden Danns into the mix, giving them valuable experience in competitive fixtures.
Additionally, there’s a strong possibility that Szoboszlai might start in midfield. The Hungarian midfielder, who has been sidelined since Liverpool’s trip to Tottenham prior to the Christmas break, needs to regain his match rhythm. Slot recognizes this opportunity for Szoboszlai to make an impact, stating, “He needs to rediscover his rhythm having not started a game since the Premier League trip to Tottenham prior to Christmas.”
Liverpool will aim to navigate this FA Cup tie against League Two side Accrington Stanley with a squad that blends experience and youthful energy. Slot’s choices will be crucial in ensuring the squad remains competitive without compromising their long-term goals, and the return of Szoboszlai and Quansah adds a much-needed boost as the Reds continue their pursuit of success on multiple fronts.
