Liverpool boss Arne Slot appears to have taken action to address the club's defensive injury crisis as the Reds return to Premier League action this weekend. Liverpool will take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.

Slot is looking to make it three wins on the spin as the race for the Champions League places heats up. While Liverpool have been dogged by inconsistency this season, they have also been hampered by injuries.

Lengthy absences to Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo have meant that Slot has struggled to keep a consistent backline this season. Today's news round-up sees the Reds boss take steps to solve that issue, while Liverpool have yet again been linked with making a hefty summer bid for a promising young player.

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While Liverpool didn't act in the January market by bringing in immediate reinforcements, with French defender Jeremy Jacquet joining in the summer, Slot has promoted two academy players to train alongside Liverpool's first-team squad this week.

According to This Is Anfield, Josh Davidson and Terence Miles joined the first team for training on Wednesday. While the two are not potential starters, or even squad players for this weekend's game against Forest, it shows how the Reds boss is taking proactive steps to ensure should any more injuries hit the Reds in defence, they will be well stocked.

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Davidson, 20, is a right-back who has been at the club since the age of six. He signed his first professional contract in October 2022. Miles, 21, is also a full-back by trade but can play at centre-half too.

Liverpool continue to be linked to RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old has reportedly been watched regularly this season with Liverpool's top brass, including the likes of chief executive of football Michael Edwards and chief scout Barry Hunter, casting a keen eye on the youngster.

Diomande has 15 goal contributions from 25 appearances this season. Several reports emerging this week have claimed that the Reds are eager to be in the mix when it comes to securing the Ivory Coast star's signature, with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Tottenham also said to be interested.

ESPN stated that Diomande has even been considered by Liverpool as an ideal candidate to replace Mohamed Salah at Anfield. One stumbling block could be the price being quoted, with talkSPORT claiming that Diomande will cost at least £87m with the overall cost potentially reaching over £100m.

However, Leipzig could lose their bargaining chip should they miss out on Champions League football next season, with Diomande believed to want to play in Europe's premier competition next season. They are currently locked in a battle to secure fourth place in the Bundesliga.

In another boost for the Reds, Diomande even namechecked Liverpoolearlier this year. “I want to play at Anfield, I want to play for Liverpool. I’m a big Liverpool fan. My father’s dream is to see me play for Liverpool," he said.

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However, he clarified his comments this week, adding: “People made it out to be my dream club, but first and foremost, it’s my dad’s favourite club.

"It was always his great wish to see me play there someday because he loves the atmosphere at Anfield. He always raved about Steven Gerrard. I was too young to see him play. We didn’t even have a TV at home for a long time."

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