Liverpool Injury Update: Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alisson to Return Soon
Liverpool’s injury worries continue ahead of Sparta Prague and Manchester City clashes. With crucial games ahead, Liverpool still misses some key figures ahead of important games in the domestic and Europa League. The men in red, against all odds, found a way to beat Chelsea in the Carabao Cup last weekend, followed by a 98th-minute Darwin Nunez header against Nottingham Forest to restore the four-point lead in the summit on Saturday.
The upcoming fixtures also weigh equal value, including an away fixture in the Europa League round of 16 versus Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic on Thursday, before the high-stakes title battle at Anfield versus Manchester City on Sunday. The second leg follows the next week where Jurgen Klopp’s men will host Sparta before the FA Cup quarterfinals against rivals Manchester United and later face-off with local neighbors Everton in the Merseyside derby. As the matches pile up, here is the latest update on Liverpool’s injuries and their potential returns after Nunez, Wataru Endo, and Dominik Szoboszlai all featured off the bench at Forest and Andy Robertson started after coming off illness.
Mohamed Salah
Salah showed great signs of revival after scoring off the bench in the 4-1 win at Brentford in February, later to have muscle fatigue after injuring his hamstring in the Africa Cup of Nations. Since then, he missed games against Luton, Chelsea, Southampton, and Nottingham Forest, as he is kept secure for the City clash expecting to start as well, said Klopp.
There is a possibility of seeing the Egyptian versus Prague, but an act of caution to keep the player rested won’t be surprising as well. A 100% fit Salah is what Klopp is aiming to bring to the City clash.
Potential return date: March 10, vs. Manchester City
Trent Alexander-Arnold
The full-back has not made an appearance since damaging his knee yet again a month ago in a 3-1 win over Burnley. The Caraboa Cup finals were never in the cards. However, missing out on the Forest game brought Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders confirm his injured lateral collateral ligament would keep him away until the next international break as well.
April is the month where we could see Alexander-Arnold provided he has a complete recovery ahead of the games when Liverpool faces United in another top-flight clash before meeting Sheffield United and Crystal Palace.
Potential return date: March 31, vs. Brighton
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Alisson Becker
An illness has kept Liverpool’s first-choice keeper sidelined against Brentford, which later saw him sustain a hamstring, also keeping him out for weeks. Klopp has revealed that it’s not a season-ending but rather needs to be taken care of.“
He is working in the gym, not on the pitch. It is a rather serious one but not a season-ending injury.”
Potential return date: April 2024
Diogo Jota
A medial collateral ligament injury in the knee has kept the Portuguese forward out since he was stretchered off against Brentford. Even though he avoided a posterior cruciate ligament injury, which would have buried even his Euro 2024 dreams, he still faces months rather than weeks in the treatment room.
Potential return date: April 2024
Ryan Gravenberch
A Carabao final injury saw the summer signing stretchered off with an ankle injury. A ligament issue for Gravenberch was feared but he could return for some parts of the City game.“We will see. So, we need miracles with a few players. So, that’s why I don’t want to rule out for too long,” said Klopp.
Potential return date: March 10th
Curtis Jones
Another costly loss is Curtis Jones as he suffered a blow to his ankle in west London. He is missing out on all the action since he is expected to return this month.
“Curtis is probably the first one [to come back] around the international break. All the others will be after the international break,” said Lijnders.
Potential return date: March 17th
Thiago Alcantara
The ever-injured Spaniard returned after 10 months for his first appearance in a 3-1 loss at Arsenal, only to suffer another setback seeing him out for the season. His contract ends this year, and this would have been his last appearance for the Reds.
“That’s not a short-term thing, that’s why I’m not really in the subject. It’s not that he might be in training in two weeks or stuff like that. So, that’s why I’m not 100 percent in it. I cannot say more about it, to be honest.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Joel Matip
An ACL injury for the African in the win over Fulham in December saw the player undergo surgery afterward. With his contract due to end this summer, Matip is another player who has already played his final game for Liverpool.
Potential return date: Unknown
Stefan Bajcetic
A breakout star from last season has just managed two appearances this campaign. It is because of a long-term issue. “He’s gaining fitness now. He didn’t get a green light yet for us for the team training,” Klopp said.
Potential return date: April 2024
Ben Doak
It’s complete rehab for the teenager undergoing surgery on a lateral meniscus tear. It happened in December and is not expected to return anytime soon.
Potential return date: April 2024
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