Liverpool got back to winning ways in the Premier League by earning Merseyside bragging rights over Everton.
Mohamed Salah netted a second-half double at Anfield on Saturday after Ashley Young was sent off to ensure that Jurgen Klopp’s side returned from the international break with a morale-boosting victory over their local rivals that send them third in the top-flight and only one point off top spot before unbeaten Tottenham play Fulham on Monday night.
The Reds now face a busy period coming up, with a Europa League clash with French side Toulouse on Thursday followed by the League visit of Nottingham Forest next weekend and a Carabao Cup fourth-round trip to Bournemouth.
Klopp still has one or two key lingering fitness concerns as his team attempt to keep fighting for trophies across three fronts.
Here is the latest Liverpool injury news and return dates…
Andy Robertson
Klopp’s most glaring absentee is Robertson, with the usually ever-present left-back needing surgery on the shoulder injury he suffered while on international duty for Euro 2024-bound Scotland against Spain last week.
Greece’s Kostas Tsimikas deputised against Everton and looks likely to be needed for the next several weeks at least, with the manager having admitted that Robertson would be sidelined for “a while”.
Klopp said before the derby: “The decision will go towards surgery. There was a little chance he could try without, but after talking to a lot of experts, it looks like surgery will be the best thing in the long term and that means he is out for a while.
“I don’t know exact for how long, but shoulder surgery is not an easy one.
“In my experience, he can train pretty quickly again but not football-specific because he has to be careful, there are challenges and all these kinds of things. He will be out for a while.”
Potential return date: January 2024
Cody Gakpo
The Dutch forward was absent from the matchday squad against Everton after suffering a knee injury during the controversial defeat at Tottenham last month.
However, Gakpo did return to training at Kirkby in the build-up to the derby and will surely be pushing for a first-team comeback against either Toulouse or Nottingham Forest this week, having missed Liverpool’s last three matches across all competitions.
Potential return date: October 26, vs Toulouse
Thiago Alcantara
The Spaniard has not played for Liverpool since April after undergoing surgery on a persistent hip issue.
It remains to be seen exactly when Thiago will finally be in a position to return, with it inevitably set to take time to build match fitness when he does eventually shake off these setbacks.
November or December seems most likely at the moment, but it’s very difficult to say until we get another proper update from the boss.
Potential return date: December 2023
Stefan Bajcetic
Bajcetic made his return to action with two appearances in September, having previously been sidelined since March with a thigh problem that curtailed an impressive 2022/23 campaign for the academy graduate midfielder.
The Spaniard started the Europa League clash with LASK and the subsequent Carabao Cup meeting against Leicester, but has not been involved since after sustaining what was described at the time as a minor calf problem.
The injury did not sound serious and Klopp will presumably be hoping that he can be in contention to return again soon.
Potential return date: November 1, vs Bournemouth
Ben Doak
Doak played no part against Everton due to a muscle injury picked up while away with Scotland’s Under-21s.
It remains to be seen exactly how much time the 17-year-old will miss.
“Ben Doak from Scotland has a little muscle thing,” Klopp said on Friday. “So we have to see (how long he is out for) but is not available for the weekend.”
In better news for Liverpool, back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was back on the bench at the weekend after a knee injury received before the international break that needed 12 stitches.
