Liverpool have not only been forced to deal with a worryingly long list of suspensions at the start of 2023/24, but injuries, too.
While their fitness woes haven’t been as severe as some of their rivals, Jurgen Klopp has nonetheless been forced to chop and change as a result of absences.
Liverpool will be boosted by the return of Diogo Jota from suspension for Saturday’s Merseyside derby, although Curtis Jones still has two more games before he’s eligible again.
Jones will be joined by several players on the injury list who’ll miss Everton’s upcoming visit.
The Reds were dealt a devastating blow during the break with ever-present left-back Andy Robertson picking up a rather serious shoulder injury in Scotland’s defeat to Spain.
There are fears Robertson might have to undergo surgery to repair his dislocated shoulder. If that proves to be the case, the left-back will endure a lengthy period on the sidelines.
However, until the results of his latest assessments are revealed, it’s uncertain when he’ll return.
An unfortunate collision with Destiny Udogie left Cody Gakpo wincing in pain after he equalised in a drama-filled encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Dutchman has been out of action since with a knee injury, although Klopp did provide a positive update ahead of Liverpool’s draw with Brighton just before the break.
“He is already out of the brace. He walks normally around, so from all the very, very bad opportunities and possibilities injury-wise, I think he nearly got the best but is still injured,” he said. There’s doubt over whether he’ll be fit to start the derby, but he could earn minutes off the bench.
Thiago was a majestic figure during Liverpool’s stellar 2021/22 campaign that almost culminated in a quadruple, but he’s barely featured since.
The Spaniard has been dealing with a long-standing hip issue, with Klopp confirming the midfielder has suffered a setback during his recovery. While the German boss said Thiago’s setback was “not massive,” the midfielder seems weeks away from making a return.
The young Spaniard flashed his talent during a breakout 2022/23 season but then endured a lengthy five-month absence as the result of an adductor injury.
Bajcetic returned to action in September but his comeback lasted just two games before he sustained another problem. The midfielder’s calf injury was initially described as a “little setback” by Klopp, but he’s been out of action for three weeks and it remains to be seen when he could return to the fold again.
Liverpool will hope they won’t have to rely upon Kelleher much after the international break given Alisson’s status as the club’s number one, but the Reds nonetheless might be without their number two for the Merseyside derby.
The young Irishman wasn’t called up to the Ireland squad for their October fixtures after picking up a knee injury in training which ruled him out of the Reds’ final two games before the break.
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