Arne Slot has a big decision to make after losing Hugo Ekitike to suspension
Talisman: Mohamed Salah will start at Selhurst Park
Alexander Isak is set to make his first Premier League start for Liverpool at Selhurst Park, though Arne Slot has suggested the £125million signing is not yet ready to play 90 minutes.
“He’s able to make minutes again. I still feel 90 – [it] depends also on the pace and the intensity of the game – might be a bit too much,” said Slot.
“But not only that, also for the long term. So you can maybe give one, I would call, stupid hit to bring him to 90 and then you brought him too far over the line. So, I don’t think it’s smart to play him 90 yet.
“But he’s further into his pre-season now and normally after two or three weeks in pre-season players go to 60, 70 minutes, and in some clubs they even bring them to 90. But if you look at our pre-season, we mainly bring them to 60 to 70 minutes then.”
Giovanni Leoni is facing a year out with the serious knee injury he suffered against Southampton.
“He is not in a good place,” said Slot. “He tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year.”
Liverpool predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
Injured: Leoni (ACL)
Suspended: Ekitike
Time and date: 3.00pm BST on Saturday, September 27, 2025
Venue: Selhurst Park
