The injury issues continue to mount for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Anfield with Arsenal saw Kostas Tsimikas and Luis Diaz both withdrawn through injury, placing even further pressure on an already strained squad.
Tsimikas’ setback has ensured both of Liverpool’s senior left-backs are now sidelined, with Andy Robertson yet to recover from his shoulder issue. Diaz looked to have aggravated a past problem with his knee, though it remains unclear at this stage whether the Colombian will be forced to endure a period of the team as a result.
Below is a round-up of those currently unavailable to Klopp, with nine players currently on the treatment table.
Kostas Tsimikas
The Greek defender suffered a nasty collision following a challenge from Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, which saw Tsimikas land awkwardly on his shoulder.
He clattered into Klopp on the touchline after being brought to ground by Saka and immediately appeared in serious pain.
Speaking after Saturday’s 1-1 draw, the Liverpool boss confirmed it was not good news on Tsimikas. Klopp said: “He [Tsimikas] broke his collarbone at least. That’s really bad for us.”
Expected return date: Unknown
Luis Diaz
Diaz, also injured against Arsenal, will hope the discomfort felt in his knee is not a long-term issue.
The Colombian spent several months sidelined last season after suffering a knee injury in a 3-2 defeat against the Gunners in October 2022.
Feeling something in the same part of his body on Saturday, the former Porto winger was withdrawn as a precaution.
Offering an update on Diaz post-match, Klopp told reporters: “I hope not [serious]. He has pain, it was knee on knee and in that moment we wanted to change twice and then Lucho was down.
“And actually we first wanted to wait if maybe Lucho has to come off but then we decided [to] change all three because now we don’t have to wait how Lucho is and that’s what we did then.
“Lucho told me ‘little pain’, physios were not too concerned, but you never know and we play in three days and you never know how quick the turnaround is, so we have to see. I don’t know.”
Expected return date: Unknown
Alexis Mac Allister
Mac Allister is edging closer to making a return to action, having been unavailable for selection since suffering a cut to his knee in the 1-0 win at Sheffield United earlier this month.
The Argentine’s condition, initially thought to be minor, was worse than first feared and has therefore led to him missing multiple matches.
But Klopp delivered an optimistic assessment of Mac Allister’s current state on Friday, stating: “Macca and Diogo getting closer and closer but not ready for tomorrow. That’s it.”
Expected return date: January
Joel Matip
Liverpool defender Joel Matip is recovering from surgery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The 32-year-old, who is the final months of his contract at Anfield, is likely to miss the rest of the season.
He was left stricken on the Anfield turf in the 70th-minute of the dramatic 4-3 win over Fulham after an off-the-ball incident.
“It’s an ACL, ruptured, so that’s what I unfortunately expected from the first second. Everything looked like that. Very unfortunate,” Klopp said.
Expected return date: 2024/25 season
Andy Robertson
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson is set to make a timely return in January after being out since following a shoulder injury on international duty with Scotland.
The Tartan Army captain was forced to undergo surgery on a dislocated shoulder and has been out of action since – missing the Reds’ rise to Premier League challengers and Scotland’s successful Euro 2024 qualification bid.
Discussing the Scot’s condition earlier this week, Klopp said: “I sat yesterday pretty long with him and actually he’s doing well. The problem is a little bit that the shoulder is not there. The rest of the body is fine but we need to be patient a little bit. We need to be patient a little bit longer but it’s fine.
“So he can do all the physical work already, which annoys him quite a lot because he’s not allowed for ball training, a little bit of passing maybe and stuff like this – but not properly. But physically when he’s ready to go, allowed to go shoulder-wise, then I think it’s a short time until he will be back. We all hope it will be in January but I don’t know.”
Expected return date: January
Diogo Jota
The versatile attacker has been a big miss for the Reds since picking up a knock in a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on November 25.
