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Football Insider

Liverpool's Injury Woes Continue as Arn Slot Faces Challenges Ahead of Inter Milan Clash

Arn Slot has confirmed that a key Liverpool player will miss the Champions League trip to Inter Milan due to injury, adding to the club's woes following Mohamed Salah's outburst. With another attacking option sidelined, the Reds face a tough test against Inter.

Liverpool's Injury Woes Continue as Arn Slot Faces Challenges Ahead of Inter Milan Clash

Arne Slot has confirmed a key Liverpool player will miss his side's Champions League trip to Inter Milan due to injury. The Reds were left reeling after Mohamed Salah accused the club of "throwing him under the bus" amid his struggles to get back into their starting XI. After it emerged that the 33-year-old won't travel to Italy, a team-mate of his also won't feature.After Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday, Salah said someone at the club wants him to "get all the blame", that he deserves to start for the Reds after what he has done for them over the years and his relationship with manager Slot has broken down. In response, the Dutchman admitted he had "no clue" whether the Egypt international had played his last game for the Merseyside outfit and that he was not "weak" for entertaining the possibility of re-integrating the 33-year-old back into the fold. Hot on the heels of that, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher called Salah's comments "disgraceful" and accused him of trying to get Slot sacked. This came after the Reds had decided against taking Salah to the San Siro for Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Inter, and to make matters worse, the Premier League title holders will be without more attacking options for this tough fixture.On Monday night, Slot told reporters that winger Cody Gakpo will be out for several weeks after picking up an injury against Leeds, and fellow wideman Chiesa is also not going to play due to illness.He said: "Federico is ill, that is poor timing you could say but not something you can do about. If he has an amazing recovery, which doctors don't expect, he might travel tomorrow, but that's not what I expect. Cody picked up an injury against Leeds and he will be out for a few weeks."Between Gakpo and Chiesa, they have scored six goals in the Premier League this season, in addition to four assists. The Dutchman has more goal contributions (seven) than any other Reds player in the league this term, so he could be a big loss for them in the coming weeks.Incidentally, on the Inter test, goalkeeper Alisson added, "We have a big challenge tomorrow. Inter Milan is doing so well this season, so my focus, the focus of the team, is on the challenge we're going to face tomorrow."There was a great deal of excitement when Chiesa swapped Juventus for Liverpool for around £10 million in the summer of 2024. However, injuries and a failure to break into the first team limited him to just 14 appearances in all competitions. This term, however, he has already played 15 times and provided five goal contributions. And that has not gone unnoticed by Slot.When asked about the winger's chances of making Italy's World Cup squad, he said: "It's not up to me to decide who should be selected for the national team. I'm very pleased to see that Federico is in a much better place this season than last season, when he struggled a lot with his fitness. This season, he has been much fitter and, as a result, has had more playing time than last season. When he's played, he's had some very good moments, so it is up to the Italian manager if he wants to select him. I like him as a player and person."A Chiesa-less Liverpool face a tough test in Italy against Inter on Tuesday night, before they return to Premier League action on Saturday at home to Brighton. The Reds, who are ninth in the table, will hope they can emerge victorious in both these encounters this week.On the Inter game, Slot said: "I see more similarities than differences. Same system, all the same players in what I expect as a starting line-up. Probably he did a few things but the way they press higher up the pitch, I see more similarities between Simone Inzaghi and Christian Chivu."

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Liverpool's Struggles Continue Amid Salah Drama

Following Mohamed Salah's comments accusing the club of mishandling his situation and the subsequent decision to not include him in the squad traveling to face Inter Milan, Liverpool manager Arn Slot is facing a turbulent time. The absence of Salah, coupled with the injuries to key players, presents a major setback for the team.

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Injury Woes Deepen with Gakpo and Chiesa Absences

Liverpool's injury concerns have intensified with winger Cody Gakpo ruled out for several weeks due to an injury sustained against Leeds United. Additionally, Federico Chiesa will also miss the Inter Milan clash due to illness. The absence of these attacking options will undoubtedly pose a challenge for the Reds.

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Alisson Acknowledges Tough Inter Milan Encounter

Goalkeeper Alisson recognizes the magnitude of the challenge that lies ahead as Liverpool face Inter Milan in the Champions League. With Inter performing well this season, Alisson emphasizes the team's focus and determination to overcome the tough opposition.

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Chiesa's Rise and Potential Impact on Italy's World Cup Squad

Federico Chiesa's improved form and increased playing time this season have caught the attention of Liverpool manager Arn Slot. Despite his absence against Inter Milan, Chiesa's contributions have been significant, with Slot praising his progress. The winger's performance may also influence his chances of making Italy's World Cup squad.

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Looking Ahead: Challenges for Liverpool

As Liverpool navigate through a series of challenging fixtures, beginning with the Inter Milan clash, Arn Slot and his team face a crucial period in their season. The absence of key players, coupled with the pressure of delivering results, will test the squad's resilience and depth. The upcoming matches against Inter and Brighton will provide opportunities for Liverpool to showcase their strength and determination.

Published on Dec 8, 2025