Liverpool have been badly stung by injuries this season, but that hasn’t prevented them from challenging on all fronts.
The Reds currently sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, while they boast a 2-1 lead over Fulham in the League Cup semi-finals ahead of Wednesday’s second leg at Craven Cottage. Hosting Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, they’ll also return to Europa League action in March after securing their place in the round-of-16 last month.
Ahead of facing the Cottagers, Pep Lijnders offered a bumper injury update, with a number of players due back in team training in the next few weeks. Consequently, Liverpool’s squad is about to get a lot stronger heading towards the season run-in.
Andy Robertson will be in the matchday squad to face Fulham, having been sidelined with a dislocated shoulder since October, while both Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold could be available against Norwich on Sunday. Meanwhile, Kostas Tsimikas is seemingly a couple of weeks away from a return to training.
Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah is expected to miss three to four weeks with a hamstring injury suffered on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, with such a lay-off in line with what he would have missed if Egypt reached the final regardless. Wataru Endo will return from Asian Cup duty next month, while both Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic have previously been tipped to step up their own returns in February.
That would leave Liverpool without the services of Joel Matip and teenage forward Ben Doak. The Cameroonian has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, while the young Scot could reportedly return in April after undergoing knee surgery.
After cup clashes with Fulham and Norwich, the Reds return to Premier League action on Wednesday 31 January when they host Chelsea. A trip to Arsenal follows on Sunday 4 February before Liverpool host Burnley on Saturday 10 February. Get through such a run of fixtures injury-free and, all being well, the majority of Klopp’s squad will be available at his disposal.
In the meantime, Szoboszlai and Alexander-Arnold should join Robertson in returning in time for that eye-catching Premier League double-header against Chelsea and Arsenal. So, barring further injuries, what’s the strongest side Klopp could select against the London-based pair? We take a look…
Conor Bradley has impressed in Liverpool’s recent victories over Fulham and Bournemouth in the absence of Alexander-Arnold, but the Northern Irishman will be well aware that the Reds’ vice-captain will reclaim his starting place when back fit. Of course, there is an outcome when both are selected to start by Klopp, with the England international moving into midfield, but that’s another debate entirely.
On the opposing flank, Robertson could start at left-back with Klopp previously suggesting it won’t take the Scot long to reclaim match fitness once able to resume contact training despite a three-month lay-off. But if such games come too soon for him, Joe Gomez will continue in the role having thrived during his recent run in the position.
Ibrahima Konate continues at centre-back alongside captain Virgil van Dijk, with Gomez also an alternative in his favoured position, while Alisson is of course in goal.
Szoboszlai starts
Having featured in every Premier League match so far this season prior to injury, Dominik Szoboszlai’s recent spell on the sidelines could actually prove to be a blessing in disguise.
One of Liverpool’s standout performers during the opening months of the campaign, the hope will be that the Hungarian can reclaim such form when he makes his return.
Alexis Mac Allister continues as the holding midfielder ahead of Endo’s return from international duty, with Klopp facing a welcome dilemma as to who to select between the in-form pair once the Japanese returns.
And Curtis Jones completes the midfield trio after avoiding injury against Bournemouth, as he continues to shine when selected.
New Salah stand-in selected
Klopp has turned to Harvey Elliott, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and Diogo Jota on the right in the absence of Salah, with the quartet vying to stand in for the Egyptian in the weeks ahead.
Scoring a brace against Bournemouth after switching to the flank, the Portuguese can get the nod, for now, with Diaz reverting to his favoured left-wing role. Meanwhile, Darwin Nunez gets the nod down the middle, with Cody Gakpo left as the attacking option in reserve.
But such is the quality within the quartet, even without Salah, that any three-man combination is enough to do the damage at the top end of the pitch.
Strongest Liverpool XI to face Chelsea/Arsenal: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Jota, Nunez, Diaz.
