Overview
- Arne Slot said Alexander Isak trained with the squad on Friday after three weeks out with a groin injury sustained against Eintracht Frankfurt.
- The manager indicated Isak will not start at the Etihad and needs time to reach match fitness, though bench involvement remains possible.
- Slot expects Alisson to be available immediately after the international window and said Jeremie Frimpong is also due back after the break but not yet fully ready for Nottingham Forest.
- Liverpool arrive on the back of shutout victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid as both they and Manchester City look to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top.
- Slot noted recent tactical tweaks, including Dominik Szoboszlai operating deeper and Florian Wirtz from the left, and said Andy Robertson’s workload will be assessed after three starts in seven days.