Liverpool continue to be stung by injuries ahead of their clash with Man City at Anfield
Liverpool could be without six players when they lock horns with Man City on Sunday afternoon. The Reds saw both Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate suffer issues in their 2-0 victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday.
The Frenchman would later take to Instagram and hint he was set for an extended stint on the sidelines after injuring his knee.
“So frustrating to pick up this injury right at the end of a great game on Wednesday night,” he wrote. “Now we start the recovery process but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again.
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“Thank you for the amazing support at Anfield. Inshallah we will keep going and I will support the team every step of the way.”
Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland international suffered a suspected hamstring injury, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez expected to come into Arne Slot’s starting XI in place of the pair.
Alexander-Arnold has only just returned from a hamstring injury of his own, and was an unused substitute against Real Madrid. Liverpool have also recently welcomed back Harvey Elliott from a fractured foot, though he is yet to play since late-August.
The Reds’ injury woes had looked set to ease up after the November international break as a number of players were tipped to join Elliott in returning to team training.
Federico Chiesa, who hasn’t played since September, has joined in parts of sessions with his team-mates but is yet to make a full return. Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker have also not yet returned to full team training after lengthy lay-offs.
When Slot addressed the media at his latest pre-match press conference, taking place on Thursday rather than its traditional Friday slot, Konate and Bradley were the main focus of attention when it came to Liverpool team news.
Consequently, it remains unclear if any of the aforementioned could make a surprise return to the matchday squad against Man City after Slot did not offer a fresh update on their progress.
With Kostas Tsimikas also sidelined with an ankle injury, the Reds are down to the bare bones defensively with Jarell Quansah the only senior option left standing in reserve.
On the cusp of their injury list easing up, Slot will hope that there are no more casualties added to his absentees ahead of a hectic festive period.
Liverpool have navigated their injuries impressively well so far this season, in contrast to the likes of Man City and Arsenal. While their rivals have bemoaned their list of absentees, the Reds have continued to quietly go about their business.
Indeed, Slot currently has more players ruled out (six) than both Pep Guardiola (five) and Mikel Arteta (three).
“It’s quite a list for us as well,” the Dutchman pointed out before facing Real Madrid. Yet, to date, he has not been fazed by such setbacks and boasts enough confidence in his squad and its depth to keep getting the job done.
“This happens through a season,” he acknowledged after losing Konate and Bradley midweek. “I am really hoping both of them are available to play because we want them all available, but if not someone else has to step up and until now this season everybody that I [have] selected to start has shown up.
“That’s also what is going to happen on Sunday, if they can play but also if they can’t play then other ones will step up.”
Meanwhile, at his City pre-match press conference, he said: “I think in general people only talk about injuries if the results are not there, so it’s a good thing that nobody talked about our injuries.
“That means that we got our results in. But the moment you start to lose, it’s about a kick-off time on a Saturday afternoon or it’s about injuries or we always come up with certain ideas why, especially me, we didn’t win. But nine out of 10 times it’s about the quality of the players from the other team or their game plan.
“We do have some very important players for us being injured but if the replacements do so well it’s normal that people don’t talk about it that much.
“It is true that missing Alisson, which has been a starter for this club and been so important for this club for so long, missing Diogo Jota [and] missing Trent in the last two games – those are players that have had impact a lot on the results in recent years. But it’s a good thing we don’t talk about it.”
While not much has been made of Liverpool’s injuries compared to their rivals, it is clear they have been stung too. But unlike their foes, such issues are not yet drying up.
As the likes of Chiesa, Alisson and Jota gradually edge closer to returning, the Reds lost Bradley and Konate. As one hand gives, the other takes away.
Of course, players have stepped up to cover such absences and Slot will hope that is the case again on Sunday.
But he will also hope that come the final whistle at Anfield, his squad’s injuries remain something that the wider world continues to not talk about as Liverpool look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
