Liverpool can boast a clean bill of health when they face Chelsea in their next Premier League game on Wednesday. Manchester United welcomed Andy Robertson, Dominic Szoboslai and Trent Alexander-Arnold into the squad for Sunday’s win over FA Cup champions Norwich City. Meanwhile, Thiago Alcantara and Mohamed Salah continue to recover from hip and hamstring injuries at the AXA Training Centre. It means Jurgen Klopp could name his strongest October XI for Chelsea on Wednesday, with Kostas Tsimikas and Joe Gomez replacing Robertson, who picked up a shoulder injury while playing for Scotland in October.
Here’s the latest injury news at Anfield ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash.
Thiago AlcantaraIt’s almost a year since Thiago Alcantara started a Premier League game for Liverpool in a 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of February 2023. The Spaniard saw his season come to an untimely end in April and since then he decided it would be best to leave. To prepare for the start of the 2023/2024 campaign, go under the knife and get your butt sorted. However, this has not been the case and Thiago is yet to feature for the Reds this season. But the midfielder was spotted training with his Liverpool team-mates on Friday, sparking optimism that a return may not be far off. Estimated return date: February.
mohamed salahSalah’s next appearance will be for Liverpool after Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations match against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday. The Liverpool striker was ruled out of Egypt’s 2-2 draw with Ghana earlier this month after picking up a thigh injury and recently returned to Merseyside to continue his rehabilitation programme. Salah had hoped to return to the Ivory Coast for Egypt in the final round of the competition but will now play for Liverpool after Sunday’s defeat. The player’s adviser, Rami Abbas, confirmed last week that Salah’s problem was more serious than first thought and would rule him out for 21 to 28 days. This means Salah will return to Liverpool for the Premier League games against either Burnley or Brentford. Estimated return date: February
Alexis McAllister, Alexis McAllister is expected to be available for Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Chelsea on Wednesday despite missing out on Norwich City in the FA Cup. The Argentina midfielder should have sat out Sunday’s 5-2 win because he needed rest, according to manager Jurgen Klopp. “Alexis, if it’s the last game of the season, whether it’s a decisive game or not, he’ll be available, but he won’t be available for every game,” Klopp said. “He had some feelings and we don’t want to know more. I said that’s all. I took a break from that. “I think it should be ready on Wednesday.”Costas Tsimikas Tsimikas is awaiting medical clearance to return to Liverpool after being sidelined for over a month. The left-back suffered a serious collision with Bukayo Saka during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Anfield last month and subsequently required surgery on his collarbone.Klopp shared an update on the defender last week. “Cost (Kostas Tsimikas) is close. Kosty is actually healthy. Kosty will now have to wait for approval as the bone takes much longer to heal, but the plate is now doing its job.“Now we need to know when someone has had enough. Let’s put it this way. And he works out too. Like Trent, he wasn’t gone as long as Dom.Estimated return date: early February.
Stepan ByketichBaycetic suffered setbacks in his young career at the Reds after a series of injuries. He had a strong debut season last season, but it ended in early March due to a stress reaction in his adductor muscles. Bajcetic returned to action in the Carabao Cup and Europa League in September, but his appearance for LASK Linz was his last since a calf problem. Pep Lijnders said this week: “They (Baycetic, Thiago Alcantara) will not be ready at the end of this month. Maybe he will train with us next month. “But both are progressing (without complications).”Estimated return date: February.
Joel MatipMatip is recovering from surgery following an ACL injury. The 32-year-old, who is in the final month of his contract at Anfield, could miss the rest of the season. The centre-back hit the pitch at Anfield after an off-the-ball incident in the 70th minute of the 4-3 Premier League win over Fulham in December.“It was a torn cruciate ligament but unfortunately I expected that to happen from the start. Everything looked like this. “It’s very sad,” said Jurgen Klopp. Estimated Return Date: Unknown.
good dockDoak has been sidelined for a long time with a serious knee injury sustained while playing for the U-21 national team last month. Lijnders recently said of Doak’s condition: “He’s not in good shape. He needs surgery for a torn lateral meniscus. “(It’s) going to take more time. He’s young, he’s a good guy, he’s a positive guy, so he’s definitely going to come back stronger and we need him to come back with the same passion that he had when he had the ball . “I need time and I’m waiting,” he said.Estimated Return Date: Unknown.