The Premier League title race will take another twist on Sunday when Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield, but Jurgen Klopp’s Reds face an uphill battle to beat their heavyweight rivals amid continued injury woes.
Liverpool and City have duelled relentlessly at the Premier League’s summit since Pep Guardiola followed Klopp to the British shores, although the pair have been joined by Mikel Arteta’s ever-evolving Arsenal in this season’s quest for glory .
While City and Arsenal are both improving on the injury front ahead of the run-in, Liverpool are still without a number of important first-team players despite recent returns.
Below are the players Klopp will be without for City’s visit to Anfield this weekend.
Goalkeeper & Defenders
The Reds were dealt another major injury scare on Thursday evening during their 5-1 thrashing of Sparta Prague. Ibrahima Konate was forced off in the second half with a suspected hamstring injury, although Klopp was quick to dismiss his substitution as a mere precaution.
The centre-back underwent a scan on Friday, but the results are not yet known. Thus, Konate is a major doubt for Sunday’s game.
Klopp dismissed any fears regarding Joe Gomez, but the hosts will be without Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip.
Midfielders
Dominik Szoboszlai is back fit for the Reds and will surely start Sunday’s game.
Klopp, however, will be without Curtis Jones, who could return the following week for Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Man Utd. The perpetually injured Thiago Alcantara remains out, as does young Stefan Bajcetic due to a calf injury. The Spaniards have barely featured for the Reds this term.
Ryan Gravenberch picked up an ankle injury during the Carabao Cup final and won’t return until after the upcoming break.
Forwards
There was another cameo off the bench for Mohamed Salah in midweek, with the Egyptian seemingly timing his recovery perfectly for City’s visit. Liverpool’s superstar has enjoyed plenty of success against the Cityzens in the past.
Salah will be expected to start in Liverpool’s frontline alongside Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, but Klopp won’t be able to call upon Diogo Jota, who should return next month from a knee injury, and young Ben Doak.
