Liverpool may have managed to put a stop to Manchester City’s 23-game winning run at the Etihad, but they didn’t come away from their visit unscathed.
The Reds picked up a respectable point in Manchester, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s strike securing a 1-1 draw with the champions. It was the first game of the incredibly busy winter schedule post international break, with some key members of Jurgen Klopp’s squad picking up injuries at the Etihad.T
Diogo Jota was substituted in the second half, while Alisson appeared to pull his hamstring despite soldiering on until the final whistle. With games coming thick and fast, Klopp will be sweating on the fitness of the duo.
Here is the latest news on Liverpool’s injuries.
Alisson didn’t enjoy his best afternoon at the Etihad. His miscued clearance ultimately led to Erling Haaland’s opener, while he was perhaps fortunate not to concede a second after spilling a corner into the path of Ruben Dias – the referee having ruled that the Liverpool goalkeeper was fouled by Manuel Akanji.
The 31-year-old’s performance can perhaps be excused by the fact that he played in the early hours of last Wednesday morning during Brazil’s clash with Argentina in Rio de Janeiro, while that extra workload could also explain his potential injury.
Alisson appeared to pull up with a hamstring injury towards the end of the match at the Etihad after clearing the ball, but he managed to finish the game despite picking up a knock. While the extent of the goalkeeper’s injury is not yet known, the Reds will be praying that he is not sidelined for too long.
Speaking after the game, Klopp said: “I hope it’s not that serious, but I don’t have the answer – no clue in the moment what it is. I spoke to him and he said he only felt [it] a little bit, but we have to wait for the scan.”
Another casualty of Liverpool’s battle with Man City was Jota. The Portuguese was substituted after 54 minutes for Luis Diaz at the Etihad, clutching the back of his left leg as he looked towards a worried Klopp.
Jota hadn’t been particularly influential, but his potential absence in the coming weeks could be pivotal. The forward has been a useful option off the bench and in cup competitions this season, managing eight goals despite not being at his absolute best.
Speaking after the Man City match, Klopp stated: “The shadow on this game is obviously that Ali felt something and Diogo felt something – something we have to assess and then we will see.”
The Liverpool boss later admitted that Jota had suffered a muscle strain of some description, but was unclear on the severity of the issue.
Having missed the past few games for club and country, Ibrahima Konate returned to the bench against Manchester City. It was rumoured that the Frenchman would start against Erling Haaland, but Joel Matip retained his place in the starting lineup.
However, Konate could return on Thursday night in the Europa League when Liverpool take on Austrian outfit LASK in their fifth group stage game.
Andy Robertson continues to recover from the surgery he underwent on a dislocated shoulder in October. The left-back has been missing since and will be out for quite some time still.
Robertson will definitely be sidelined until 2024, with an optimistic return date of January next year.
With Thiago’s contract expiring next summer and Liverpool looking increasingly unlikely to renew it, the Spaniard is running out of time at Anfield.
He is yet to play this season after several injury setbacks following hip surgery earlier in the year, with a return cautiously pencilled in for early 2024.
Having been arguably overworked last season at such a young age in Liverpool’s midfield, the 19-year-old has struggled to get back to full fitness after picking up an injury at the end of last campaign.
Bajcetic has featured twice for the Reds this season in the Europa League and Carabao Cup, but isn’t expected to play again until 2024.
After a very successful loan spell with Bolton Wanderers, Conor Bradley was expected to get some minutes in Liverpool’s first-team this season. However, the young full-back has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his back for the entirety of the campaign so far.
Bradley has now returned to training and is expected to feature soon for Liverpool’s Under-21s. As he builds up his match fitness, the 13-cap Northern Ireland international could earn himself some game time in Klopp’s side.
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