Ahead of Liverpool’s return to action in a Premier League showdown against Bournemouth on Sunday, January 21, the Reds face an increasingly daunting challenge, as their remarkable start to the season has been overshadowed by a growing injury list.
Despite securing a spot in the Europa League’s last 16, claiming the top spot in the Premier League, and advancing to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a gutsy victory over title rivals Arsenal, Liverpool’s achievements have been marred by the continuous expansion of their injury woes.
In a stunning display of resilience, the Reds managed to secure a comeback 2-1 win against Fulham on Wednesday, putting them one step closer to the Carabao Cup final. However, Jurgen Klopp faced the semi-final first-leg clash without 10 key players. Notably, Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo, participating in the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup respectively, added to the challenge, joining eight injured first-team stars who were unavailable for the Reds boss.
Jurgen Klopp showcased his managerial prowess once again, executing a strategic move by bringing in Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, who proved to be the match-winner, tilting the balance in favor of his team as they head into the decisive leg at Craven Cottage on January 24. Despite the upcoming challenge, Klopp welcomes a brief respite before the second match against Fulham, scheduled just three days after a Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
Looking ahead to the game at the Vitality Stadium on January 21, it’s pertinent to provide an update on Liverpool’s sidelined players and their anticipated return dates.
Dominik Szoboszlai
After suffering a hamstring injury during the 4-2 home victory against Newcastle United on New Year’s Day, Dominik Szoboszlai has been absent from the last two matches. However, the Hungarian midfielder is now back to running and indicated earlier this week that he’ll soon return to full training.
“I am still running without a ball, but soon I will be able to carefully try training with a ball,” he told Nemzeti Sport after being crowned Hungarian Sportsman of The Year for the second time. “I am getting better.
“Yes, it’s possible (that I will return against Bournemouth), but we don’t want to rush anything. I’d rather miss one more match, if that’s what it takes, so that I don’t injure the previous strain and can play continuously.”
Expected return date: Fulham (A), Wednesday, January 24
Trent Alexander-Arnold
A bombshell dropped moments before the press conference for the semi-final first leg against Fulham as assistant manager Pep Lijnders revealed that key player Trent Alexander-Arnold had succumbed to injury, marking the club’s latest casualty.
Lijnders said: “Trent hyperextended his knee during the last game (the 2-0 victory at Arsenal). So he has a little tear in the lateral ligament of his knee and he will need time to recover. He had a scan and he will be out for a few weeks, so let’s see after that.”
Expected return date: Early February
Andy Robertson
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury has left the Reds without their first-choice full-backs. Nevertheless, Andy Robertson is poised to make a comeback this month, having been sidelined since dislocating his shoulder on international duty with Scotland in October. The left-back underwent surgery, causing him to miss Liverpool’s ascent to the top of the Premier League and Scotland’s triumphant Euro 2024 qualification campaign.
Discussing Robertson’s condition earlier this week, Pep Lijnders said: “He’s almost at the three-month mark, so he will get checked by the surgeon. And if he does that scan and we see everything (so) that we can really progress him, he will go to Dubai for a week to do proper volume sessions, proper sessions, so that will be good for him. Then we see the three-month-mark scan and then we can see how quick he can go into contact again.”
Expected return date: Late January
Kostas Tsimikas
Currently, the Reds are navigating without a dedicated left-back since Kostas Tsimikas, who had been filling in for Robertson, sustained a significant injury during a 1-1 Premier League draw against Arsenal last month. In a clash with Gunners winger Bukayo Saka, Tsimikas collided with Jurgen Klopp on the touchline, landing awkwardly on his shoulder. The extent of the Greece international’s pain was evident immediately, and post-game, his manager, Jurgen Klopp, confirmed the unfortunate news, saying: “He broke his collarbone at least. That’s really bad for us.”
Joe Gomez, known for his proficiency as a center-back or right-back, is currently assuming the role of left-back. The Reds have brought back young talent Owen Beck from his loan stint at Dundee.
Pep Lijnders said of Tsimikas on Tuesday: “Same (as Robertson) for Kostas. Kostas is progressing really well, really quick. So hopefully both of them – Robbo and Kostas – will be back at the end of this month to train with the team.”
Expected return date: Late January
Thiago Alcantara
Thiago Alcantara last played for Liverpool in their victory against West Ham United in April. Dealing with a persistent hip problem, the midfielder opted for surgery to address the issue. It’s now confirmed that Thiago won’t join the first-team training until the following month.
Expected return date: Sometime in February
Stefan Bajcetic
Stefan Bajcetic has faced challenges in his early career with the Reds due to various injuries. Despite a promising debut season, he had to cut it short in March due to a stress response in his adductor. Although he made a comeback in September, participating in the Carabao Cup and Europa League, his last appearance against LASK Linz was marred by a calf issue.
Pep Lijnders said this week: “They (Bajcetic, Thiago) will not be ready for the end of this month. It will probably be going into the next month to train with us. But both (with) no complications, progressing.”
Expected return date: Sometime in February
Joel Matip
Joel Matip, 32, is in the final months of his contract at Anfield and undergoing recovery from surgery following an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Unfortunately, the centre-back is expected to miss the remainder of the season after the incident during the dramatic 4-3 Premier League win over Fulham in December, where he was left injured on the Anfield turf in the 70th minute. “It’s an ACL, ruptured, so that’s what I unfortunately expected from the first second. Everything looked like that. Very unfortunate,” Jurgen Klopp said.
Expected return date: Unknown
Ben Doak
Ben Doak faces an extended absence due to a severe knee injury he incurred while participating in the under-21s last month. Pep Lijnders commented on Doak’s current condition. “That’s not a good one. He teared his lateral meniscus, which needs surgery.
“That one will take (a) longer time. He is young, he is a fit guy, he is a positive guy so for sure he will come back stronger, and we need him to come back with the same fire he has with the ball, how he was. He can take time and we will wait for him.”
Expected return date: Unknown
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool Can Succeed with With Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold Absent for the Rest of the Month