5 games that could define Liverpool's season as 2 players close to comeback

Arne Slot's side face five matches against bottom-seven teams before the international break, with Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak progressing toward full fitness

Arne Slot is aiming to win silverware this season(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool's squad returns to training on Wednesday, with attitudes and expectations having significantly shifted since the season's commencement.

However, there will now be renewed determination and confidence among Arne Slot's team that a challenging season marred by uncertainty and disappointment can conclude on a high note.

The Reds' gaffer granted his squad several days off after they bounced back from a disheartening last-minute defeat against Manchester City 10 days ago with a hard-fought 1-0 Premier League victory at Sunderland, followed by Saturday evening's 3-0 FA Cup fourth round triumph at home against Brighton. This could well turn out to be a crucial week in Liverpool's campaign, if not a turning point, given the challenges that still lie ahead.

Avoiding the Champions League playoffs has provided the Reds with two free midweeks ahead of what could be a hectic end to the season. Slot will hope that the rare extended time spent both away from the AXA Training Centre for rest and recovery, and then at Kirkby for tactical fine-tuning, will prove beneficial.

One issue likely to be on the agenda is the tendency to start matches slowly, which was once again evident over the weekend. Remarkably, the Reds have scored only once in the opening 30 minutes of any league match since September, and none in the last 10.

They've conceded seven during the same period, but only two have occurred since November. However, that measured approach has proved advantageous, with Liverpool suffering just two defeats in 19 matches across all competitions, both of which came deep into stoppage time.

Alexander Isak and Jeremie Frimpong are both hoping to return to action shortly(Image: Getty Images)

Following nine losses in 12 during the autumn period, the Reds have become considerably more difficult to overcome and, since Mohamed Salah's return from the Africa Cup of Nations, pose a far greater attacking threat.

Continued attention will be given to restoring Jeremie Frimpong to full fitness to address the problems at right-back, while accelerating the recovery of Alexander Isak. The forward would have expected his debut Anfield campaign to have unfolded differently, but he could still emerge as a valuable attacking asset when the fixture list intensifies next month.

Liverpool has at least 15 fixtures remaining. It will be hoping it's closer to 23, given that figure would indicate progression to the finals of both the FA Cup and Champions League.

While the Reds will only learn on Friday week which of their four potential opponents - Juventus, Galatasaray, Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge - they will meet in next month's Champions League round of 16, they are aware that Wolves must be defeated in the FA Cup fifth round before those two fixtures, which come just days after a Tuesday Premier League trip to Molineux. This is one of six away fixtures in the Premier League, kicking off on Sunday with a match against Nottingham Forest.

Forest's 3-0 triumph at Anfield in November marked Liverpool's lowest point this season. In fact, Slot has yet to secure a victory over Forest as Liverpool's manager. Interestingly, all six remaining home games are against London-based teams - West Ham, Tottenham, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and, on the final weekend, Brentford.

Three of Liverpool's last four matches in May are against the teams directly above them in the standings, with the Anfield encounter against Chelsea nestled between visits to Manchester United and Aston Villa.

The task now is to ensure these games matter in the fight for Champions League qualification. With all five of Liverpool's Premier League matches between now and the late March international break against teams currently in the bottom seven, the Reds can set themselves up for the final push.

While it may have been agonizing and desperate at times, the season is far from finished for Slot and his squad.