All the very latest on the Liverpool injury and availability situation before the trip to Premier League basement boys Southampton after the international break
Liverpool stormed five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at a boisterous Anfield on Saturday. But it was a victory that came at a cost.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off in the 25th minute with an unspecified injury and is now a serious doubt to join up with the England squad for their UEFA Nations League clashes with Republic of Ireland and Greece. The right-back’s withdrawal was the only negative on a night when the Reds took full advantage of Manchester City’s fourth defeat in a row in all competitions.
Liverpool have now won 15 of their 17 matches under new head coach Arne Slot and they will be confident of continuing their winning ways when they return to action on Sunday, November 24 away to rock-bottom Southampton.
READ MORE: FSG sent Mohamed Salah contract message with new Liverpool banner as Arne Slot gets what he deservesREAD MORE: Darwin Nunez truth now clear as Liverpool undroppable left with no guarantees
But, while Slot and his players who are not on international duty will get some well-deserved time off, the Dutchman no doubt will be sweating on the fitness of Alexander-Arnold and anxiously waiting on updates of the other four key first-team players who are currently sidelined.
And here we take a look at the latest injury news in the Reds camp….
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Injury: Unknown
Slot thinks it’s unlikely Alexander-Arnold will feature for England during the international break. But the Liverpool boss admitted after the Villa win that it is too early to put a timeline on any length of absence for his vice-captain.
He said: “That is difficult to say how serious it is. “But it is always a serious injury if a player goes out in the first half. Not because I didn’t like him but he asked (to be substituted) himself. He asked for it because he felt something.
“So that is first of all not a good sign. It is always difficult so close after the game to tell you exactly what it is but let’s wait and see. I would be surprised if we will see him playing for the England national team this week but hopefully he can.”
Possible return date: Unknown
Alisson Becker
Injury: Hamstring
Liverpool’s No.1 Alisson Becker has been missing since the 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on October 5. At the time it was suggested that the hamstring injury he sustained would rule him out for a minimum of six weeks.
That would see him return after the international break but Slot has expressed caution in recent weeks, explaining before the 2-1 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend that at that stage he could not put a timescale on when Alisson or Diogo Jota would be back
He said: “I think I said already a few times that it’s always difficult to tell you exactly when they are ready. Especially the last phase of the recovery can always be a few days extra or less.”
But Alisson was present for the triumph over Villa and afterwards and Slot admitted the Brazilian will resume his role between the posts once he’s fit despite the fantastic form of his deputy Caoimhin Kelleher.
Slot said: “First of all, Alisson needs to become fit. I have always been quite clear, that’s always been the position of Alisson.
“He is and will be our first goalkeeper if he is fit. But first he needs to be fit.
“But Caoimh has done outstanding, last season and this season again as well but the moment Alisson is fit, he will be our first goalkeeper.”
Possible return date: Southampton (A), Premier League, November 24
Diogo Jota
Injury: Upper body
Jota was injured early on against Chelsea on October 20 after he was hauled down near the halfway line by Tosin Adaraiboyo. In an incident that contained similarities to the one that saw William Saliba dismissed for Arsenal in their 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth the previous night, the Chelsea defender was controversially only given a yellow card by referee John Brooks, despite being the last man back for his side.
The striker hasn’t played since and in his press conference on Friday, Slot admitted that the Portugal international looks a major doubt for the massive double header against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Man City in the Premier League after the international break.
Slot said: “We expect him back after the international break. Now, after the international break is six or seven months (of the season) to go!
“He will be back one or two weeks after the international break.”
Possible return date: Newcastle United (A), Premier League, December 4
Federico Chiesa
Injury: Unknown
Federico Chiesa has now missed the Reds’ last nine matches with an unspecified issue. But there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel with the Italy international expected to return after the international break.
Slot said on Friday of the summer signing: “I would not use the word concern but it is far from ideal for him and us. Because with the injury of Dioga (Jota) we have four attackers available, so this could have been a great moment for him to get more playing time.
“It is difficult for a player who missed out on pre-season and playing pre-season games and training sessions. You have to give a player more time to get to the intensity levels.
“It is a difficult balance to get him where we want but we are trying and he is trying everything he can to get to these levels.
“Once he is at that physical level we will benefit from having him. At this moment we expect him back during the international break and then he should be with us after the international break normally.”
Possible return date: Southampton (A), Premier League, November 24
Harvey Elliott
Injury: Foot
The fractured foot Harvey Elliott suffered while on England Under-21s duty has kept the midfielder sidelined since early September.
The clash with Chelsea had long pencilled in as a potential return date and the player himself hinted that he was closing on full fitness with a post on social media. However, he was not involved and Liverpool have no intention of rushing the 21-year-old back to action.
Elliott has been back on the grass at the AXA Training Centre but has yet to return to full first-team training.
Possible return date: Unknown
