Marco Silva rules Fulham star out of Liverpool trip but key defender available

Fulham head coach Marco Silva spoke in Friday's press conference and gave a detailed update on the fitness of his squad ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash at Anfield

Marco Silva gave a detailed injury update ahead of Fulham's trip to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Fulham head coach Marco Silva has provided an injury update on four players ahead of Saturday’s trip to Fulham.

The London club travels to Anfield in the hunt for a European spot and trails the champions by just five points in the Premier League table. Arne Slot has also never beaten Fulham in three previous attempts, and given the Reds’ current form, few can confidently predict that tally won’t increase.

Harrison Reed netted a remarkable equalizer when the sides last met at Craven Cottage in January, yet the former Southampton midfielder will not be available this weekend, Silva confirmed in Friday’s press conference.

“He got a knock two days ago in the session, in his knee. Doesn’t look like anything really serious, but he’s going to be out of the Liverpool game,” said the Fulham head coach.

Calvin Bassey has been declared fit despite not meeting up with the Nigeria squad during the international break due to a back injury, but Kenny Tete and Kevin remain absent with foot issues.

“From the international break, good news in terms of the fitness of the squad. Fitness point of view, all of them, they all of them back in good conditions,” Silva said.

Kenny Tete will miss Fulham's clash against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

On Tetty, he added: “There’s something there, the foot. Let’s see how long it is going to be without pain.

“He’s going to start to work with the team, and he’s going to be, after a matter of time, back in a good fitness way and good physical condition, to be in contention for the games.”

As for Kevin, the sprightly winger has not played since February, and his continued absence is a blow for Fulham given his encouraging form prior to the injury.

“It’s going very well. He is very positive, we have to be positive, too,” Silva said, when asked about Kevin’s recovery. “But at the same time, we have to respect the timings and the steps until we see him with us.

Silva and Fulham have frustrated Arne Slot in the past

“He’s in a good mood, he’s in a positive way, working hard on the things that he can do with our medical staff. Let’s see if we can have him before the end of the season.

“He’s always a very, very good player for us, a player that can do different things. Unfortunately for us, he got injured in the best moment of the season for him, when he was capable to understand things better.

“His physical condition was probably in the best moment since he joined ourselves. For us, was a really big blow, really, in terms of the capacity that he was showing to help the team.

“Let’s hope he can recover well, and when he comes back, he comes back stronger.”