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Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez for Saturday's showdown at Tottenham Hotspur, with manager Arne Slot providing the latest on his squad
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has delivered positive news regarding Dominik Szoboszlai's fitness ahead of Saturday's crucial clash at Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds will also welcome back two right-backs whilst receiving encouraging updates on Cody Gakpo's condition.
Both Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez sustained knocks during last Saturday's 2-0 triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield, a result that stretched Liverpool's undefeated streak across all competitions to five matches.
The Merseysiders will aim to extend that sequence to six when they travel to north London on Saturday, with Slot revealing at Friday's press conference that whilst Gomez remains unavailable, midfielder Szoboszlai appears likely to feature in the matchday squad and could start if deemed "completely fit".
The squad will benefit from the return of Conor Bradley, who was absent against Brighton due to suspension, alongside fellow right-back Jeremie Frimpong, who has been recovering from a muscle problem picked up during the emphatic 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on October 22, though he has now resumed full training.
This timing proves crucial with Gomez, who operated at right-back against the Seagulls, confirmed as missing for the trip to Spurs, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Slot explained: "Joe is not in the squad as well for the weekend and Dominik trained yesterday, parts of the training (session), for the first time, so let's see where he is today and how he is tomorrow. Jeremie is in the squad again as well."
When questioned about Szoboszlai's starting prospects, the Dutch tactician added: "That completely depends on how he does today. So if can fulfil the whole training session and then you speak to the player and the medical staff. If the player feels comfortable to play and he did all the things he had to do, then he will start.
"If he can fulfil the whole session or he fulfils it but he doesn't feel comfortable himself we will have a discussion. But Dom has been a starter for me in the one-and-a-half years I am here now and for the performances he's brought in, he would be a starter tomorrow if he is completely fit."
Slot also provided a positive update regarding Gakpo, who had medical scans conducted this week. Whilst the attacker will be absent for this weekend's fixture and the subsequent home match against Wolves, his return could come sooner than initially anticipated.
Slot explained: "He had a scan that looked promising so that means that we are not that worried anymore, as we were maybe one or two weeks ago. So that means he might come back a bit earlier than expected two weeks ago, but that's definitely not tomorrow and also not next week."
No fresh information was provided concerning midfielder Wataru Endo, whilst defender Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined with a lengthy injury. The encounter with Tottenham marks the Reds' first outing since star forward Mohamed Salah's departure for the Africa Cup of Nations.
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