Liverpool are facing an anxious wait over the fitness of a number of players ahead of their trip to Southampton on Sunday
Liverpool return to action after the international break away at Southampton on Sunday. Currently boasting a five-point lead over Man City at the top of the Premier League table, they are guaranteed to stay there for another week at least too, regardless of their own result at St. Mary’s.
Also nine points clear of Arsenal, who currently occupy fourth spot, both Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta will point to a number of injuries within their ranks as a contributing factor behind their respective sides slipping up and falling behind Arne Slot’s men.
The Reds have been struck down by injuries too, of course, yet managed to find a way to continue picking up results regardless with 15 wins from their first 17 matches.
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Liverpool headed into the break with five players side-lined. And although Virgil van Dijk could potentially be added to such a total after it was confirmed that he had withdrawn from the Netherlands squad on medical grounds, the Reds’ injury woes could be about to ease up.
Harvey Elliott has been absent since the September international break with a fractured foot, but returned to training with the Under-21s last week.
Having initially hoped to return in October, it has been a lengthy lay-off for the 21-year-old. But set to return to first team training this week, he’ll be hoping to prove his fitness ahead of Sunday’s trip to the South Coast.
But while Slot could be about to welcome Elliott back to his ranks, it remains to be seen just how close the rest of his walking wounded are to making returns of their own.
Liverpool have confirmed that Van Dijk will be assessed when he returns to the AXA Training Centre, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has already handed the Reds a fitness boost after avoiding serious injury against Aston Villa.
Forced off against the Villains, scans revealed he suffered a low grade hamstring injury. The full-back consequently withdrew from the England squad as a result. And while he hasn’t yet been ruled out of being fit to feature against Southampton, he still faces a race against time to be passed fit to feature against the Saints, as well as in next week’s Anfield double-header against Real Madrid and Man City.
While Liverpool could face an anxious wait over the two defenders, it remains to be seen if Alisson Becker and Federico Chiesa are yet ready to return after long-term lay-offs.
Slot had previously revealed that he expected the pair, who haven’t featured since early-October and late-September respectively, back after the international break.
Meanwhile, he shared that Chiesa was expected to return to training during the break itself. But unlike with Elliott, whether he had made such steps have not yet been publicised.
Alisson did post a picture of himself training in the gym at the AXA Training Centre on social media during the break, but it remains unclear if either player will be back in contention for the trip to St. Mary’s.
In contrast, Slot has already confirmed that Diogo Jota is unlikely to return until December after suffering an impact injury against Chelsea last month.
Slot is expected to offer an injury update at the AXA Training Centre on Friday. In the meantime, Liverpool face an anxious wait as they hope their remaining internationals avoid any setbacks and wait to see who exactly will be available for their trip to the South Coast.
