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Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that Ismaila Sarr and Yeremy Pino are both fit to start ahead of his side hosting Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend.
Sarr and Pino have been nursing injuries lately but the pair have returned to training and are set to be available for selection. Pino was taken off at half-time against West Ham United a week ago but the issue has proven only to be minor.
"He had the full training week, the same as Adam [Wharton] and Eddie [Nketiah]," Glasner said when he was asked about Sarr. The winger has missed the last three matches (Sunderland, Millwall and West Ham) with a hamstring problem.
"We always nominate the squad when we think everybody is ready to start," Glasner continued. "I don’t know if he can play 90 or 100 minutes — I don’t know how intense the game will be — but he’s ready.
"[Pino] just had to rest on Tuesday. He had a bone bruise — he took a knock, knee on knee, which was very painful — but since Wednesday he’s been training and did the rest of the week.
"He feels fine, so he’s also available. So many players are available, more or less all players."
"It’s just Caleb Kporha who can’t train at the moment, and of course Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure," Glasner later clarified. "Chadi looks like he will return around the next international break, so it’s good."
Liverpool will face Marc Guehi for the first time since the Crystal Palace captain's transfer move to Anfield broke down on deadline day. The England ace wanted the switch but the Eagles failed to find a replacement.
"I don't think one day before we play Palace, we need to talk about Guehi again," Arne Slot said earlier today. "He is a Palace player and he has been very important for them.
"We prepare for Palace, who are a very good team. They have not lost for 17 games in a row, and he is a part of that team. So, a difficult team to beat but so are we. We beat them 1-0 and twice it was a draw."
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The Reds are down to three center-backs now because Giovanni Leoni is set to be out for months with an ACL tear. But the Liverpool head coach insisted he isn't worried about the situation.
"We have more than enough options to replace, if needed, a player in the center-back position," Slot said. "Of course, we have Virgil van Dijk, Ibou Konate and Joe Gomez, and other options if needed."
Liverpool.com says: Crystal Palace is viewed by many as a bogey team for Liverpool, but the Reds have a good record there in recent years. The game will be tight, but there is no reason that Slot's men can't get over the line.
If they can move eight points ahead of Arsenal before the Gunners go to Newcastle on Sunday, that would put big pressure on Mikel Arteta's team to get a result. Even at this stage of the season, it would be a big blow to land.
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