Alexander Isak in 'really good place' as he returns to training before FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City, confirms Arne Slot

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Alexander Isak is set to make his return to full Liverpool training on Thursday, having been sidelined since December with an ankle injury. The striker has had a difficult first season at Anfield, struggling for goals before requiring surgery, but he could play a part in the run-in, with Slot confirming he will train with the team ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City.

'For me, a reckless challenge' - Slot reacts to Van de Ven tackle on Isak

Video credit: SNTV

Alexander Isak will train on Thursday for the first time since returning from his ankle injury ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City, which will be live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

The striker, who signed in the summer for a British record transfer fee of £125m, has been sidelined since December after undergoing surgery on his injury, which included a fibula fracture.

The Sweden international suffered the injury in the process of scoring his second Premier League goal of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.

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Ahead of Liverpool’s trip to the Etihad on Saturday, manager Arne Slot told the club’s website: "I think Alex is in a really good place because Sweden qualified for the World Cup yesterday evening, and apart from that, he's going to train with the group again for the first time tomorrow.

"If you've worked so hard for three, four months or something like that and then to return to team training, that's for everyone very nice. So Alex is, in that sense, in a good place.

"Of course, it's only his first session, after three or four months [out], with the team, but it's good to have him back because we all know who we signed and we've signed an incredible striker.

"So to have him again in a team that's usually generating quite a lot of chances – and maybe not immediately from the first moment that he can start – but to have him back for the last two months is, I think, very helpful for us."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Isak made a disappointing start to his Liverpool career before his injury, scoring just three goals in 16 games across all competitions.

His slow start is reflective of an underwhelming campaign on the whole for The Reds, who are 21 points off the pace in their Premier League title defence.

To reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup, they will need to avoid a third successive defeat against City, having lost both league meetings against Guardiola’s side this season.

However, they are likely to be boosted by the return of Mohamed Salah, who Slot praised on Wednesday for his hunger to return from a muscle injury.

The winger had been a doubt for the last-eight clash after missing the defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion before the international break, and Egypt’s friendlies with Saudi Arabia and Spain.

"Another example of what makes him special,” Slot said. "The moment he got injured, there was a bit of a situation where they thought, 'I don't think he's available for City.' But Mo looked at me and said, 'I think I will be available for City.'

"He just does so much for his body for such a long time that he recovers so fast. So, he will train with the team again tomorrow, and if everything works well, then he's available to be with us at City."

Slot is also confident Federico Chiesa will be available, despite the winger withdrawing from the Italy squad, though Jeremie Frimpong needs to be assessed after being replaced in the Netherlands’ meeting with Ecuador, and Alisson remains out.

Which FA Cup matches are live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK?

Below are the Emirates FA Cup quarter-final fixtures - all of which will be shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK.

Date	Match	Kick-off (UK time)
Sat, April 4	Man City v Liverpool	12.45
Sat, April 4	Chelsea v Port Vale	17:15
Sat, April 4	Southampton v Arsenal	20:00
Sun, April 5	West Ham v Leeds	16:30