Alongside Robertson: Jurgen Klopp confirms three other Liverpool injury absences for derby clash

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed numerous Liverpool injury absences for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Saturday.

The big news from Friday afternoon’s press conference was that Andy Robertson will go for surgery on a shoulder injury, which realistically means he won’t play again this side of January, and the Scot isn’t the only Reds player who’ll have to watch on from afar tomorrow.

The LFC manager told reporters today (via Liverpool Echo) that Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara and Ben Doak are all confirmed absentees for the game at Anfield, with an update of wait-and-see on Cody Gakpo, who’s trained once with the team in the run-up to the weekend’s fixture.

While Robertson is the only one of the confirmed absentees who, prior to the international break, would’ve been likely to start for Liverpool tomorrow, the others would all have been valuable options to have in reserve for the visit of Everton.

Klopp’s options had already been depleted by the suspension handed down to Curtis Jones, who also misses the Nottingham Forest game next weekend, so to be deprived of two other midfielders in Bajcetic and Thiago is far from ideal.

Their absences are all the more galling in a week where Alexis Mac Allister was playing a World Cup qualifier in Peru at 3am GMT on Wednesday, but luckily the Reds managed to get their South American players back much quicker this time than after September’s international window.

With that in mind, and Klopp coy on whether Gakpo will be able to feature tomorrow, we can expect to see Darwin Nunez leading the line, especially with the Uruguayan buoyed by scoring twice for his country in recent days.

There could well be some inexperienced names among the Liverpool substitutes on Saturday, but we’ve full trust that the manager will find a way to field a starting XI which’ll still be strong enough to maintain our 100% record at home so far this season.

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Latest Liverpool injury news ahead of the Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday.

Liverpool will be without Andy Robertson and several other stars for the Merseyside derby against Everton today.

Robertson will undergo shoulder surgery after being injured on international duty with Scotland, dealing a major blow to Jurgen Klopp’s plans.

Cody Gakpo could return after missing the draw with Brighton. The Dutchman was injured in the controversial defeat to Tottenham three weeks ago, while Curtis Jones remains suspended.

Gakpo trained with his team-mates on Thursday and is expected to be available for the clash with Everton. Diogo Jota also returns from suspension.

Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo should return against Everton after picking up a knock against Tottenham.

The Dutchman, who scored for Liverpool in the controversial defeat, left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a knee brace after picking up a knock.

But Jurgen Klopp is hopeful Gakpo will be back in action against the Blues. He said: “Diogo (Jota) is available again, if nobody tells me differently.

Cody (Gakpo) trained once with the team so we will have to see how that goes for tomorrow.”

Jones was shown a red card in the 26th minute of the defeat to Spurs for a lunge of Yves Bissouma.

Initially, referee Simon Hooper awarded the midfielder a yellow card for the tackle before VAR recommended that he view the challenge on the pitch-side monitor.

After a swift look at slowed-down replays, Hooper brandished a red card in Jones’ direction.

As it stands, Jones will serve a three-match ban for his dismissal and will miss the Reds’ upcoming games against Brighton, Everton and Nottingham Forest.

His return to domestic action could come against Bournemouth in the League Cup next month.

Thiago’s Liverpool absence now stands at six months with the midfielder yet to make an appearance since April.

The Spaniard, who underwent hip surgery at the backend of last season, is yet to return to training after suffering yet another setback in his recovery.

Klopp said: “It is just, for [Thiago] himself especially, annoying.

He had now two setbacks in the rehab, not massive but enough to take him off the pitch again. Obviously not the same injury, not at all, but a bit similar.

“It’s as annoying as it is for Stefan Bajcetic, who was there, played a few minutes and then played a few minutes and then felt something else. That’s how it is after long-term injuries from time to time.

“I don’t know and I will not put pressure on that [their returns] because I can’t anyway. If they will be back after the internationals, we will see that. Hopefully, it would be cool.

Expected return date: Unknown.

Stefan Bajcetic

Stefan Bajcetic is not currently training after picking up an injury after returning from a number of months out with a adductor injury.

The young Spaniard made his comeback in the Europa League victory at LASK but hasn’t been able to build on that performance after picking up a new injury.

Klopp said: “It’s as annoying as it is for Stefan Bajcetic, who was there, played a few minutes and then played a few minutes and then felt something else. That’s how it is after long-term injuries from time to time.”

The young full-back showed potential with pre-season performances in Germany, playing 90 minutes over the course of two fixtures.

He was then left out of the group that travelled to Singapore following a minor, unspecified injury and has not featured in any matchday squads since the start of the season, though has been involved in training since his team-mates returned to England.

Once fit the Northern Irishman is expected to slot into Klopp’s plans as an understudy to Alexander-Arnold, having proven himself in League One with Bolton Wanderers last year.

Klopp gave an update on his condition before the trip to Brighton: “Conor is on the way back, he is running, but in that age group and with these kind of injuries you tend to give them rather three weeks more than not enough because it has to do with the growing process of the body and stuff like this.

I couldn’t get this injury anymore, let me say it like that! And that’s why he needs a bit of time.”