Latest Liverpool news as Jurgen Klopp deals with several key players facing uncertainty over their fitness with some members of the squad dealing with injury concerns
Liverpool’s injury list is beginning to ease ahead of a busy run of fixtures in multiple competitions.
The Reds face Norwich City in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. The game will also be the first time that Liverpool are in action since the news was announced that Jurgen Klopp would be stepping down as manager at the end of the season.
Several members of Liverpool’s squad have been on the sidelines for the past few weeks, even months in some cases. However, the list may ease somewhat when the Reds return to Anfield on Sunday for the game against Norwich.
Liverpool are still competing in four competitions, having reached the Carabao Cup final earlier this week. The Reds are also at the top of the Premier League table and in the last-16 of the Europa League.
Andy Robertson has returned to the matchday squad having recovered from a dislocated shoulder, but there are question marks over the fitness of other members of the squad. Ahead of Sunday’s fixture, here’s the latest injury news from Anfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai has been sidelined for Liverpool since featuring in the New Year’s Day win over Newcastle in the Premier League. The midfielder sustained a hamstring injury but has recently stepped up his return to training.
“He had yesterday’s session, today I think he has a day off as well, and from tomorrow he’s in completely normal,” Klopp told reporters on Thursday. “Obviously that means he is ready for minutes.”
Expected return date: Norwich (H), January 28
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold sustained a knee injury during the win over Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup on January 7. The right-back is nearing a return and could feature against Norwich, but Klopp would not say with certainty whether he would be available.
“With Trent, is it Norwich or is it the game after? We have to see,” said Klopp. “He was not in team, not even parts of team training yet. If he can be in tomorrow, I have to make a decision there. We have to see. It will be absolutely helpful if they could all be involved but we have to see.”
Expected return date: Chelsea (H)/Arsenal (A)
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool were set to miss Mohamed Salah while he was on international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations. However, he sustained an injury earlier this month and missed his country’s final group game.
it was then confirmed that Salah would return to Merseyside to receive treatment for the injury. Salah is expected to be fit in time to feature in the final for Egypt on February 11, should his country reach that stage.
Expected return date: Mid-February
Kostas Tsimikas
Kostas Tsimikas has been sidelined with a broken collarbone that he sustained against Arsenal on December 23. He has since been in recovery and has been taking part in training in recent days.
“Kosti is close,” added Klopp. “Kosti is actually fit, Kosti just has to wait now for the green light because the bone healing takes much longer, but the plate is doing the job in the moment. Now we have to figure out when is one taking enough over, let me say it like that. And then he’s in training as well. He was not out that long, like Trent was not, like Dom was not.”
Expected return date: Late January/early February
Thiago Alcantara
Thiago Alcantara has been building up his fitness and is nearing a return. The midfielder is yet to feature for Liverpool this season but recently returned to training.
Sunday against Norwich is expected to be too soon for Thiago to return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Liverpool will hope the midfielder is back available for selection in the near future.
Expected return date: Sometime in February
Stefan Bajcetic
Stefan Bajcetic has endured a difficult season with injuries this season. The midfielder has played just two games for the club and has not been on the pitch since September due to a calf issue.
Bajcetic suffered a stress response in his adductor in March then called an early end to last season. The midfielder is edging closer to a return, but will not be involved against Norwich.
Expected return date: Sometime in February
Joel Matip
Joel Matip suffered an ACL injury during the 4-3 win over Fulham in the Premier League at the start of December. The centre-back was then ruled out for the remainder of the season due to the injury.
Matip’s contract at Anfield is set to expire at the end of the season. It remains to be seen if the defender has played his final game for Liverpool.
Expected return date: Unknown
