Liverpool injury news: The Reds returned to training early after the international break and there was a major injury update ahead of the derbies against Everton.
Liverpool continue their 2023/24 Premier League campaign with the Merseyside derby. While Jurgen Klopp’s pre-match press conference provides some clues, there are many question marks at this stage as to which members of the squad will be available to start against Everton.
Diogo Jota will return from a deserved suspension at Tottenham, although Curtis Jones will have to miss that game as well as the match against Nottingham Forest following his red card in north London. Where Liverpool stand in terms of their South American strengths is much less clear. For a hint, we can look at Wolves’ 3-1 win, the second at lunchtime, just after the international break. Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz started the match from the bench, while Alexis MacAllister had to be withdrawn at half-time after struggling.
Klopp may want to keep the trio in reserve roles on Saturday. However, based on the team’s injury problems, his hand may be forced otherwise, and he may have hinted after all three returned earlier Thursday. Let’s take a look at the latest injury news to see who is likely to be available for the Blues’ visit. Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo initially withdrew with a serious knee injury after scoring a 10-man goal at Tottenham. So it was great to see him training with his teammates less than three weeks later.
If he is not fit enough to start the derby, as seems likely, the Netherlands international could be a useful option off the bench. Last season, Gakpo scored the first goal of his Liverpool career in the return match.
Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson’s involvement this weekend looks unlikely, although the full extent of the injury he suffered on international duty is yet to be confirmed. A picture of the Scotland captain with his arm in a sling doing the rounds on social media was proof enough that he is likely to be out for a while.
This gives an opportunity to Kostas Tsimikas, who scored a brilliant cross for Greece last week. Or will Klopp turn to Joe Gomez instead? He began his Liverpool career as a left-back and played there under the German, although not for five years. In any case, Robertson does not tear the left wing in the derby. Caoimhín Kelleher
Someone who was shown training on Thursday was Caoimhín Kelleher. The backup goalkeeper was extremely unlucky to find a knee problem preventing him from facing the Union SG.
Although the Irishman is unlikely to ever start in the derby, he will return to Toulouse next Thursday. Fingers Kelleher could reclaim his Liverpool cup keeper spot.
Thiago Alcântara
It has been eight months since Thiago Alcântara last started a game for Liverpool and almost six months since he last appeared in any form. The midfielder, who underwent hip surgery at the end of last season, has been seen in training from time to time but is still not fully recovered. The 32-year-old suffered a setback earlier this month and is expected to return in November at the earliest.
Stefan Bajčetić
Stefan Bajčetić may prove to be Liverpool’s midfielder, but he won’t be this weekend. From 2022/23. A 2018 campaign cut short by injury, the Spain Under-21 international recently featured against LASK – in a hybrid role as a makeshift right-back – and Leicester.
However, a “small, small, small, small, small, calf problem” (according to Klopp) took him back to the treatment room and he was not pictured in training on Thursday. A timetable for his return has not yet been given, although it is almost certain that he will not be back in time for Wednesday’s Europa League clash.
