The injury issues continue to mount for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Anfield with Arsenal saw Kostas Tsimikas and Luis Diaz both withdrawn through injury, placing even further pressure on an already strained squad.
Tsimikas’ setback has ensured both of Liverpool’s senior left-backs are now sidelined, with Andy Robertson yet to recover from his shoulder issue. Diaz looked to have aggravated a past problem with his knee, though it remains unclear at this stage whether the Colombian will be forced to endure a period of the team as a result.
Below is a round-up of those currently unavailable to Klopp, with nine players currently on the treatment table.
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Kostas Tsimikas
The Greek defender suffered a nasty collision following a challenge from Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, which saw Tsimikas land awkwardly on his shoulder.
He clattered into Klopp on the touchline after being brought to ground by Saka and immediately appeared in serious pain.
Speaking after Saturday’s 1-1 draw, the Liverpool boss confirmed it was not good news on Tsimikas. Klopp said: “He [Tsimikas] broke his collarbone at least. That’s really bad for us.”
Expected return date: Unknown
Luis Diaz
Diaz, also injured against Arsenal, will hope the discomfort felt in his knee is not a long-term issue.
The Colombian spent several months sidelined last season after suffering a knee injury in a 3-2 defeat against the Gunners in October 2022.
Feeling something in the same part of his body on Saturday, the former Porto winger was withdrawn as a precaution.
Offering an update on Diaz post-match, Klopp told reporters: “I hope not [serious]. He has pain, it was knee on knee and in that moment we wanted to change twice and then Lucho was down.
“And actually we first wanted to wait if maybe Lucho has to come off but then we decided [to] change all three because now we don’t have to wait how Lucho is and that’s what we did then.
“Lucho told me ‘little pain’, physios were not too concerned, but you never know and we play in three days and you never know how quick the turnaround is, so we have to see. I don’t know.”
Expected return date: Unknown
Alexis Mac Allister
Mac Allister is edging closer to making a return to action, having been unavailable for selection since suffering a cut to his knee in the 1-0 win at Sheffield United earlier this month.
The Argentine’s condition, initially thought to be minor, was worse than first feared and has therefore led to him missing multiple matches.
But Klopp delivered an optimistic assessment of Mac Allister’s current state on Friday, stating: “Macca and Diogo getting closer and closer but not ready for tomorrow. That’s it.”
Expected return date: January
Joel Matip
Liverpool defender Joel Matip is recovering from surgery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The 32-year-old, who is the final months of his contract at Anfield, is likely to miss the rest of the season.
He was left stricken on the Anfield turf in the 70th-minute of the dramatic 4-3 win over Fulham after an off-the-ball incident.
“It’s an ACL, ruptured, so that’s what I unfortunately expected from the first second. Everything looked like that. Very unfortunate,” Klopp said.
Expected return date: 2024/25 season
Andy Robertson
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson is set to make a timely return in January after being out since following a shoulder injury on international duty with Scotland.
The Tartan Army captain was forced to undergo surgery on a dislocated shoulder and has been out of action since – missing the Reds’ rise to Premier League challengers and Scotland’s successful Euro 2024 qualification bid.
Discussing the Scot’s condition earlier this week, Klopp said: “I sat yesterday pretty long with him and actually he’s doing well. The problem is a little bit that the shoulder is not there. The rest of the body is fine but we need to be patient a little bit. We need to be patient a little bit longer but it’s fine.
“So he can do all the physical work already, which annoys him quite a lot because he’s not allowed for ball training, a little bit of passing maybe and stuff like this – but not properly. But physically when he’s ready to go, allowed to go shoulder-wise, then I think it’s a short time until he will be back. We all hope it will be in January but I don’t know.”
Expected return date: January
Diogo Jota
The versatile attacker has been a big miss for the Reds since picking up a knock in a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on November 25.
What’s clear is that Jota will soon be forming part of the Liverpool attack once again, after Klopp confirmed the former Wolves star was – like Mac Allister – getting “closer and closer”.
There is a chance the Portugal international could be back for the visit of Newcastle United on New Year’s Day.
Expected return date: January
Ben Doak
Ben Doak was recently forced off in an under-21s match against Chelsea, sustaining a blow to the knee.
It’s a huge blow during a time where Doak was beginning to enjoy a first-team role, with outings in both the Carabao Cup and Europa League.
The Scot is not expected to be rushed back anytime soon. Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders said of his 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
Thiago Alcantara
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara hasn’t featured for the Reds since their win over West Ham United back in April.
A hip issue has proven problematic for the midfield maestro, who underwent surgery in a bid to bring an end to the problem at play.
The last update issued on Thiago came in November, with Klopp hopeful of seeing the No.6 back in action in January.
“It’s an ongoing thing,” explained the Reds’ boss. “And we cannot put any kind of pressure there as well, but we expect him to be back probably start of the New Year. It’s now already November, that would mean another four weeks, I would say that’s probably a realistic thing to try.
“We can’t wait, to be honest, to have him back. The player is just exceptional. I understand that you ask, but we can’t now have a week-by-week update, because that will not change a lot in this moment.”
Expected return date: January
Stefan Bajcetic
Stefan Bajcetic has endured a frustrating period for Liverpool after a number of injury problems.
He enjoyed a strong debut season, during a dismal period for the club, but saw his campaign end after a stress response in his adductor in March. Bajcetic returned in September with outings in the Carabao Cup and Europa League but his involvement against LASK Linz proved to be the last after suffering a calf issue.
A recovery date for the midfielder remains unconfirmed.
“With Stefan, it’s again one of these things,” Klopp said in November. “Let me say it like this, Stefan’s quality, potential, talent or whatever, everybody could see and it’s incredible. What a player.
“But he was not ready yet, that’s how it is. They’re still growing, these boys. They’re all different. We have other players with a different [skeletal growth], a different body, and OK that’s fine.
“With others it’s a bit too early, so we just have to put the brake on again and just wait until that’s all fine. Then Liverpool has a wonderful player, a wonderful player, to use.
“But there’s absolutely no time that we can put on that, and we will not, we just have to wait. He’s here, he’s training, he’s doing his stuff. We know how good he is, now we have to make sure that we help him to get a body to show that – and not only once, but then three times a week. We will get there, very good news for the club. In the moment, we cannot use him and that’s all.”
Expected return date: Unknown
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
