Liverpool are feeling the full effects of Saturday’s 4-1 win at Brentford – with both Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota joining the Reds’ ever-growing injury list just days ahead of the League Cup final.
Goals from Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo were somewhat overshadowed by the premature departures of Jones and Jota in the first half, who both suffered worrying injuries.
The duo will join Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker and Thiago Alcantara on the Anfield sidelines, while Nunez is also a cause for concern after Jurgen Klopp revealed he substituted the Uruguayan as a precaution at half-time.
Here, the ECHO rounds up the latest injury news from Anfield
Diogo Jota
Jota was withdrawn just before half-time at the GTech Community Stadium after suffering a blow to his left knee. The Portugal left the pitch on a stretcher and was later pictured exiting the stadium on crutches with his knee in a brace.
Speaking after the victory, Jurgen Klopp was visibly dejected by the injuries his side had suffered early in the afternoon and revealed that Jota’s “looked the worst”.
At this stage, it is unclear how long Jota is set to spend on the sidelines. However, he can all but be ruled out of Sunday’s League Cup final against Chelsea, with Portuguese publication Record reporting the forward will be out of action for roughly two months. That, though, is yet to be confirmed.
Curtis Jones
Jones also suffered an injury during the first half against Brentford and was substituted in place of Ryan Gravenberch.
“Curtis got a knock on the lower part of his shin, above the ankle,” said Klopp on February 17.
“We will see what that means. It’s what he felt but he wasn’t 100% sure. That Curtis cannot play on tells you it must be something because he would have played on at all costs actually.
“Yeah (he’s on crutches), but that’s normal. I’ve not spoken to him, I don’t have time. I get carried around the stadium for interviews!
Expected return date: Unknown
Darwin Nunez
Nunez scored Liverpool’s opening goal against Brentford but was substituted at half-time in place of Cody Gakpo.
“Darwin, we took off because he said he feels something a little,” said Klopp on February 17. “Today that was enough to immediately push the brake and that’s what we did.
“We took him off, brought on Cody and that worked really well. That’s not great. We can talk about that part of the game, that’s really not good but we cannot change that anymore.”
Expected return date: Unknown.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold missed Liverpool’s win over Brentford with a knee injury. The right-back suffered discomfort in his knee during last week’s victory over Burnley and was substituted at half-time.
The Reds vice-captain now faces a spell on the sidelines and has already been ruled out of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea next Sunday.
Expected return date: Early March.
Alisson Becker
Alisson missed Liverpool’s win over Brentford with a hamstring injury. The goalkeeper has now missed the past two Reds matches, after not being involved in last week’s win over Burnley due to illness.
“Ali was ill last week and injured this week,” said Klopp on February 17. “No other ideas behind it (starting Caoimhin Kelleher). If he hadn’t been ill and hadn’t been injured now, Ali would have played.
“We will see how long Ali is out but Caoimhin is exceptional and today it was an A+ performance.”
Expected return date: Unknown
Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai has missed Liverpool’s last three Premier League matches with a hamstring injury. The Hungary international first suffered the injury on New Year’s Day against Newcastle.
Szoboszlai made his return against Chelsea on January 31 but has now missed the games against Arsenal, Burnley and Brentford through injury. The midfielder remains a doubt for the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea next Sunday.
Thiago Alcantara
Thiago suffered a hamstring injury during his cameo appearance against Arsenal on February 4. The midfielder had not played for the Reds for nine months before his substitute appearance at the Emirates Stadium.
No timeframe has been placed on when Liverpool expect Thiago to return. Klopp has previously admitted that he is hopeful that the midfielder will return to the matchday squad before the end of the season.
Expected return date: Unknown.
Stefan Bajcetic
Stefan Bajcetic has endured a frustrating period in his fledgling Anfield career after a number of injury problems. He enjoyed a strong debut campaign last season but saw it end prematurely after suffering a stress response in his adductor in March.
Bajcetic returned in September with outings in the Carabao Cup and Europa League but his involvement against LASK Linz proved to be his last after suffering a calf issue. It remains unclear when he will return to full training,.
Expected return date: Unknown.
Joel Matip
Joel Matip is recovering from surgery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The 32-year-old, who is the final months of his contract at Liverpool, is likely to miss the rest of the season. The centre-back was left stricken in the 70th minute of the dramatic Premier League 4-3 win over Fulham in December after an off-the-ball incident.
Expected return date: Unknown.
Ben Doak
Ben Doak is out long term with a serious knee injury sustained playing for the under-21s. Assistant manager Pep Lijnders said of Doak’s condition: “That’s not a good one. He tore his lateral meniscus, which needs surgery.
“That one will take (a) longer time. He is young, he is a fit guy, he is a positive guy so for sure he will come back stronger, and we need him to come back with the same fire he has with the ball, how he was. We will wait for him.”
Expected return date: Unknown
