Liverpool injury update: Many of Jürgen Klopp’s players are on international duty, but a few have stayed behind to regain fitness for the Manchester City game.
Liverpool will now be out of action for 10 days due to the year’s final international break. Many of Jürgen Klopp’s players are away representing their countries, and the German will be hoping that they all return to Merseyside without major injuries next week.
Andy Robertson injured his shoulder against Spain during the last international break, necessitating surgery, and the Scottish left-back is still out. With Liverpool facing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on November 25, Klopp will be hoping that lightning does not strike twice for any of his players.
This season, Liverpool’s infirmary is less busy than in previous seasons. The Reds still have several players out with long-term injuries, but the minor issues that plagued some players and clogged the treatment room have mostly subsided.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keta have both left the club, but Thiago Alcântara has taken over as a seemingly permanent occupant of the medical department. Here is the most recent Liverpool injury news, as well as when we can expect players to return before the game against Manchester City on November 25.
Thiago Alcântara and Stefan Bajčetić
Neither Thiago nor Stefan Bajčetić are back in training for Liverpool yet after long injuries. Klopp spoke recently about Thiago, stating that he won’t take to the field again until early 2024, having been out of action since the end of April.
“It’s an ongoing thing and we cannot put any kind of pressure on there as well,” said Klopp on November 3. “We expect him to be back — and I would say probably the start of the New Year.” Thiago last played for Liverpool in the 2-1 win at West Ham in the spring.
Regarding Bajčetic, Klopp also believes that the player isn’t close to a return to the field, with patience the word. “We don’t know [when he will be back]. With Stefan it’s, again, one of these things. Stefan’s quality, potential, talent, everybody could see and it’s incredible — what a player — but the body was not ready yet,” said Klopp.
Andy Robertson
The Scot was injured while on international duty for his country in the Euro 2024 qualifier with Spain. Robertson landed awkwardly on his shoulder and had to be taken off during the encounter. He had surgery to repair the damage, and Klopp is unsure at this stage how long the 29-year-old will be out of action.
“Robbo had surgery and [it] all went well, as good as it could be, so the recovery starts after he wakes up,” Klopp said on October 25. “I think it happened this morning. That’s it. We don’t know how long it will take or whatever, but the first step is done, that’s good.”
Ibrahima Konaté
The Frenchman suffered a small injury to his left hamstring in the warmup of Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Toulouse in the Europa League, and hasn’t featured since. He missed the 3-0 win against Brentford and had to subsequently pull out of the France squad to face Greece and Gibraltar.
It’s unknown when Konaté will return at this stage, but Klopp could be sweating over his fitness heading into the Manchester City game next week. However, the form of Joël Matip will provide some reassurance.
Ryan Gravenberch and Joe Gomez
The pair missed the 3-0 win against Brentford at Anfield, with the Dutchman also previously missing out on the Toulouse defeat due to a niggling knee injury. But Gravenberch should be fit to face Man City next week, after Klopp said he would ‘definitely’ be back after the break.
Gomez, meanwhile, was absent for the Brentford win due to a knock. A potential return date for him is unknown at this stage, and he has to be considered in a fitness battle for the Man City clash.
The English midfielder has missed the last several games with a ‘low-grade hamstring injury’. But Klopp believes the 22-year-old will return after the international break.
“Curtis had a hamstring (issue) not massive. After the international break, he will be back but before not. It’s a low, low-grade hamstring,” said Klopp this week.
“He was in good shape, red card, lack of rhythm, got the games and then, he felt a little bit. I took him off against Bournemouth, he didn’t feel anything there then in the dressing room he was lying there and felt something. We had a scan, very low-grade but kept him out.”
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