Liverpool head into another important Premier League weekend knowing they are walking a fine line between recovery and exhaustion. The season has reached a stage where every match feels heavy, every decision matters, and every injury can tilt momentum in either direction. As the Reds prepare to face Fulham at Craven Cottage, the mood around the club is one of cautious relief mixed with quiet concern. Relief because some key worries have eased. Concern because the fixture list is tightening its grip, and absences are still shaping Arne Slot’s options.
The headline news is that Liverpool are expected to be without six players for the Fulham clash, but the fear surrounding Florian Wirtz has been avoided. In a period where Liverpool simply cannot afford to lose another creative force, that news alone feels like a small victory. The German has become central to how Slot wants his side to play, and any suggestion of a hamstring injury immediately raised alarms among supporters. Thankfully, those fears have cooled, and Wirtz is expected to be available after his workload was carefully managed.
Arne Slot knows better than anyone that this stretch of the season is where campaigns are shaped. Liverpool are entering one of the busiest and most physically demanding periods of the year, with games coming every few days and little time for recovery. It is during moments like these that squad depth is tested, rotation becomes essential, and small margins decide outcomes. Slot may be new to English football, but he is already learning that January is as much about survival as it is about ambition.
Liverpool’s injury list still carries weight, and the most obvious absence remains Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward is away with his national team at the Africa Cup of Nations, and his stay has been extended after Egypt finished top of Group B. That result set up a last-16 clash with Benin, meaning Liverpool must continue without their most reliable attacking outlet. Salah’s absence is not just about goals; it is about leadership, control in big moments, and the psychological comfort he gives his teammates. Without him, Liverpool must spread responsibility across the squad.
Alexander Isak remains sidelined as well, with an ankle problem combined with a fractured fibula that has kept him out for an extended period. His absence has robbed Liverpool of a different attacking dimension, particularly in matches where physical presence and direct running are required. Wataru Endo is also unavailable due to an ankle issue, while Giovanni Leoni continues his long recovery from an ACL injury. Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns are both dealing with hamstring problems, further limiting Slot’s midfield and forward options.
Despite all that, there is some positivity returning to the squad. Joe Gomez is back in contention, and his availability is a significant boost. The defender has been sidelined with a hamstring issue but has now returned to training and is expected to be involved against Fulham. While he may not start, Gomez’s presence on the bench alone adds flexibility and security. His ability to cover multiple defensive roles makes him invaluable during periods of heavy rotation, and Slot will be glad to have him back at his disposal.
If Gomez is fit, which all signs suggest he is, he is likely to take a place on the bench at Craven Cottage. That could mean Calvin Ramsay or Wellity Lucky make way, a reminder of how fine the margins are in a squad stretched by injuries and fixtures. Gomez’s return also helps Liverpool manage minutes more carefully, especially with a huge away trip to Arsenal looming just days later
The situation with Florian Wirtz is perhaps the most closely watched. After the goalless draw with Leeds on New Year’s Day, Slot admitted the midfielder’s workload had been managed due to hamstring tightness. In another context, that comment might have triggered panic. In Liverpool’s current situation, it simply underlined the care being taken with a player seen as vital to the team’s balance. Wirtz has been heavily involved this season, and protecting him now could pay dividends later in the campaign.
Liverpool’s medical staff have been cautious, and rightly so. Hamstring issues have a habit of worsening if rushed, and Slot appears determined not to gamble. The expectation is that Wirtz will be available against Fulham, but whether he starts or is eased in remains a decision that will likely go right up to kick-off. What matters most is that Liverpool avoided another long-term injury, something that could have been damaging at this stage.
Another quiet positive comes in the form of Ibrahima Konate avoiding a booking against Leeds. That may sound minor, but it is anything but. Konate had been sitting on four yellow cards ahead of the New Year’s Day draw, meaning another caution would have triggered a one-match suspension. By staying disciplined, he removed that risk just in time. After the halfway point of the Premier League season, players are no longer banned for accumulating five yellow cards, so Konate now has some breathing space.
That matters because Konate has been central to Liverpool’s defensive structure. With Virgil van Dijk alongside him, Liverpool have looked more stable, even during moments of inconsistency. Slot values continuity at the back, and avoiding unnecessary suspensions helps maintain that. In a period where injuries are already forcing changes elsewhere, defensive stability becomes even more important.
The draw with Leeds was frustrating in many ways. Liverpool controlled large spells but lacked the sharpness to turn possession into goals. That frustration is part of the wider story of their recent form. After cruising to the Premier League title last season, Liverpool have found this campaign more challenging. Performances have not always matched expectations, and results have been uneven. Slot is still shaping his team, still learning the rhythm of the league, and still dealing with the realities of English football’s intensity.
That context makes rotation against Fulham almost inevitable. With only three days between matches and another difficult away fixture at Arsenal coming up, Slot must balance freshness with cohesion. Players like Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Cody Gakpo are all in consideration for changes. Each offers something different, and Slot may need to shuffle his pack without weakening the overall structure.
Kerkez brings energy and aggression on the flank, while Mac Allister offers control and intelligence in midfield. Gakpo provides versatility in attack, capable of playing across multiple positions. These are the types of players who become crucial during packed schedules. They allow a manager to rest tired legs without sacrificing quality, and Liverpool will need all of that depth over the coming weeks.
Fulham themselves are not a simple opponent. Craven Cottage has a habit of producing awkward afternoons for visiting teams, and Liverpool cannot afford to approach the match with anything less than full focus. Even with players missing, expectations remain high, and Slot knows that dropped points now can have lasting consequences. The Premier League table is unforgiving, and momentum can shift quickly.
Liverpool’s available squad for the match reflects both strength and strain. Alisson remains the undisputed number one in goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman providing cover. In defense, Slot can call upon Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Lucky, Bradley, Frimpong, Kerkez, Robertson, and Ramsay. That group offers options, but also highlights how injuries have forced younger or less experienced players into more prominent roles.
In midfield, the choices include Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Mac Allister, and Nyoni. It is a mix of energy, technique, and youth, but also a reminder that Endo and Bajcetic are missing. Up front, Liverpool have Ekitike, Wirtz, Gakpo, Chiesa, and Ngumoha to choose from. Without Salah and Isak, responsibility will be spread across this group, and Slot will hope someone steps up with a defining performance.
Matches like this often reveal character. When star names are absent and schedules are tight, it becomes about attitude, discipline, and collective effort. Liverpool have built their identity on those qualities over the years, and Slot is trying to ensure that identity survives the transition into his era. The Fulham game may not feel glamorous, but it carries weight in shaping Liverpool’s momentum heading into a critical run.
Supporters will watch closely, not just for the result, but for signs of rhythm returning. They will want to see sharper movement, clearer patterns, and a sense that the team is rediscovering its confidence. The return of Gomez and the availability of Wirtz offer reasons for optimism, even if the injury list remains longer than ideal.
There is also the wider picture to consider. January is a month that can define seasons. Injuries pile up, form fluctuates, and transfer speculation swirls in the background. Slot must manage all of that while keeping his squad focused on the task at hand. He knows that every decision, from who starts to who rests, will be judged not only on immediate results but on how the season unfolds.
The absence of Salah will continue to dominate discussions until Egypt’s AFCON journey ends. His return cannot come soon enough, but Liverpool must adapt in the meantime. That adaptation will test the depth and resilience of the squad, and games like Fulham away are the perfect example of where those qualities are required.
In many ways, this match represents Liverpool’s season in miniature. A mix of promise and frustration, depth and absence, control and uncertainty. The avoidance of a Wirtz injury scare feels like a small win, but Liverpool know they need more than small wins. They need consistency, belief, and points.
As kick-off approaches, Slot will finalize his plans, weighing fitness data, player feedback, and tactical considerations. Fans will debate lineups, worry about injuries, and hope for a performance that reassures them. Fulham will have their own ambitions, their own plan, and their own belief that Liverpool can be challenged.
By the time the final whistle blows, the narrative will shift again. Either Liverpool will have navigated another obstacle, or questions will grow louder. That is the reality of Premier League football at this stage of the season. There is no pause button, no room for sentiment, and no escape from pressure.
What remains clear is that Liverpool are not broken, even if they are bruised. The return of players like Gomez, the careful management of Wirtz, and the discipline shown by Konate all point to a team trying to steady itself. The coming weeks will reveal whether that effort is enough to sustain their ambitions.
