Similar decisions have already been taken this January by the Liverpool hierarchy, with Rhys Williams and Fabio Carvalho both returning from season-long loans early due to a lack of game time at respective sides Aberdeen and RB Leipzig.
The same is expected for another of their wonderkids, too, after the injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold has left the Reds short at right-back until the end of the month at least.
According to This Is Anfield, Liverpool are looking to bring back Calvin Ramsay from his loan spell at Preston North End. The right-back has made just two appearances for the Championship side this term, due to injury, illness and manager Ryan Lowe not including him in the squad.
While Liverpool had initially planned on Ramsay spending the entire season at Deepdale, the Reds could look to end his loan early due to his lack of first team minutes.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to miss the next three weeks through a knee injury, Ramsay could return to Anfield to offer support to Liverpool defence. Joe Gomez is capable of filling in at right-back, but Jurgen Klopp might want a specialist in the position as the Reds continue their Premier League title challenge.
But Ramsay would still have to compete with Connor Bradley for a potential starting berth in Trent’s absence. Bradley has played five times in all competitions this term, including against Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg. Klopp heaped praise on him after the match, too.
“Exceptional, what a boy, what fantastic character and the potential,” Klopp said. “He is in the right team, everyone loves him and respects him and wants him to succeed.”
Another loan spell, therefore, looks the likeliest option for Ramsay for the second half of the 2023/24 season. Fabio Carvalho has already secured a move to Hull City, while Williams is also expected to head somewhere for more first team experience, too.
Liverpool injury latest and return dates amid Curtis Jones update and Dominik Szoboszlai hint
Liverpool took a step towards Wembley on Wednesday night by beating Fulham 2-1 in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Anfield. Willian gave the visitor a shock lead midway through the first half, but Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo struck twice in the space of three second-half minutes to give the Reds the advantage before the next meeting between the two sides at Craven Cottage on January 24.
Jürgen Klopp and his players will now enjoy the rare luxury of a weekend off as part of the Premier League’s returning winter break. The idea was first introduced in 2019/20 but had to be scrapped in the last three years because of the pandemic and then the mid-season World Cup.
Half the teams in the competition will play their matchweek 21 fixtures this weekend, including Liverpool’s title rivals Manchester City, and then the other half will be in action the following weekend, with the Reds traveling to Bournemouth. That ensures every team will have at least two weeks between league fixtures.
Those who have been playing will benefit from a rest, while Klopp’s injured players have extra time to either make progress in their recovery or return to team training. Here, Liverpool.com rounds up the latest on that front.
Curtis Jones
There was a brief stoppage in play in the second half of Wednesday’s game when Jones was slow to get back to his feet after going down. He scored to draw Liverpool level soon after and stayed on the pitch, but still appeared to be feeling some discomfort in the closing stages of the game. Speaking post-match (via This is Anfield), Klopp said it was likely a dead leg, so the hope will be that Jones can play a full part in the team’s preparations for the game against Bournemouth.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai missed the FA Cup victory over Arsenal last weekend and the semi-final first leg as a result of a hamstring injury he sustained in the 4-2 league win over Newcastle on New Year’s Day. Assistant manager Pep Lijnders said in his pre-match press conference that Szoboszlai was “progressing well” and was back running, and so he seems the most likely to return at the Vitality Stadium (via LFC).
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold damaged ligaments in his knee against Arsenal in the FA Cup and is expected to be out for the next few weeks. Based on Lijnders’ update, there’s a chance the vice-captain could be available for the Premier League home game against Chelsea on the final day of this month, and failing that, he’ll hope to return for the next trip to the Emirates on February 4.
Andy Robertson
Robertson hasn’t played for Liverpool since October after dislocating his shoulder on international duty with Scotland at the end of that month. The Scotsman subsequently underwent surgery and is closing on a return to action. The Reds hope to send him to Dubai for a week to step up his individual work, pending checks from the doctor, and then reintegrate into him contract training. He’s forecast to be back before the end of January (via The Athletic).
Kostas Tsimikas
Liverpool’s deputy left-back was enjoying a run in the side in the absence of Robertson but then suffered a suspected broken collarbone in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal last month. He was pictured training alone last week, and as in the case of Robertson, the Reds are confident that he’ll return to the fold before we reach the start of February.
Thiago
Thiago hasn’t so much as kicked a ball for Liverpool this season — not since April 2023, in fact — as a result of a hip issue and fans will have to wait a bit longer to see the Spaniard in action. Lijnders said before Fulham that he won’t feature in January, but hasn’t suffered ‘any’ complications and should be ready for full training next month.
Stefan Bajčetić
Bajčetić has featured this season, starting the Europa League group-stage opener against LASK in September and then coming on as a substitute in the League Cup against Leicester later that month. His total involvement amounts to a mere 72 minutes, but Lijnders has put him on the same return timeline as Thiago in what could be a double midfield boost for Klopp.
Joël Matip
Matip’s season looks to be over after he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the 4-3 league win over Fulham at the start of December. The Cameroonian is out of contract at the end of the campaign, so may theoretically have played his last game in a red shirt, but Liverpool has reportedly assured him that they won’t leave him without a club until he completes his rehabilitation (via TIA). His injury is part of the reason the Reds only have three senior defenders available to fill four positions right now, with Joe Gomez filling in as a left-back and youngster Conor Bradley slotting in on the right.
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