Liverpool play their final match before the last international break of the year tonight when they welcome Aston Villa to Anfield (8pm kick-off). And, as well as recording the win that would guarantee his side’s place at the top of the Premier League table, Arne Slot will also be hoping for no fresh injuries.
While much has been made of the absences in the Manchester City and Arsenal squads, Liverpool have quietly been dealing with issues to key personnel of their own
However, that has not stopped the rampant Reds from winning 14 of new head coach Slot’s first 16 games in charge, which is a club record, and which has lifted them to the summit of the Champions League as well as the English top-flight.
That said, the Liverpool boss will be hoping to have more bodies available once club football resumes. And little wonder given the trip to Southampton on Sunday, November 24 kick-starts a hectic run of 11 matches between then and December 29.
Slot is going to need his squad as full as possible for the busy schedule and, ahead of the visit of Villa, here’s a look at the latest injury news in the Reds camp.
Diogo Jota
Injury: Upper body
Diogo Jota was injured early on against Chelsea on October 20 after he was hauled down near the halfway line by Tosin Adaraiboyo. In an incident that contained similarities to the one that saw William Saliba dismissed for Arsenal in their 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth the previous night, the Chelsea defender was controversially only given a yellow card by referee John Brooks, despite being the last man back for his side.
Jota was given treatment at the time and initially played on before he was forced to concede defeat and come off for Darwin Nunez in the 30th minute.
The striker hasn’t played since and in his press conference on Friday, Slot admitted that the Portugal international looks a major doubt for the massive double header against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Man City in the Premier League after the international break.
Slot said: “We expect him back after the international break. Now, after the international break is six or seven months (of the season) to go!
He will be back one or two weeks after the international break.”
Possible return date: Newcastle United (A), Premier League, December 4
Federico Chiesa
Injury: Upper body
Federico Chiesa has now missed the Reds’ last eight matches with an unspecified issue. The summer signing from Juventus will also play no part against Aston Villa this evening.
But there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel with the Italy international expected to return after the international break.
Slot said yesterday: “I would not use the word concern but it is far from ideal for him and us. Because with the injury of Dioga (Jota) we have four attackers available, so this could have been a great moment for him to get more playing time
It is difficult for a player who missed out on pre-season and playing pre-season games and training sessions. You have to give a player more time to get to the intensity levels.
“It is a difficult balance to get him where we want but we are trying and he is trying everything he can to get to these levels.
Once he is at that physical level we will benefit from having him. At this moment we expect him back during the international break and then he should be with us after the international break normally.
Possible return date: Southampton (A), Premier League, November 24
Harvey Elliott
Injury: Foot
The fractured foot Harvey Elliott suffered while on England Under-21s duty has kept the midfielder sidelined since early September.
The clash with Chelsea had long pencilled in as a potential return date and the player himself hinted that he was closing on full fitness with a post on social media. However, he was not involved and Liverpool have no intention of rushing the 21-year-old back to action.
Elliott has been back on the grass at the AXA Training Centre but has yet to return to full first-team training.
Possible return date: Unknown
Alisson Becker
Liverpool’s No.1 Alisson Becker has been missing since the 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on October 5 and is seemingly no nearer returning to training. At the time it was suggested that the hamstring injury he sustained would rule him out for a minimum of six weeks.
That would see him return after the international break but Slot has expressed caution in recent weeks, explaining before the 2-1 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend that at that stage he could not put a timescale on when Alisson or Jota would be back
He said: “I think I said already a few times that it’s always difficult to tell you exactly when they are ready. Especially the last phase of the recovery can always be a few days extra or less.
The fact is they are not there before the international break and let’s see if they can join us after.”
Possible return date: Unknown
