There are several Liverpool injury updates ahead of the Reds return to action after the international break.
Indeed, Liverpool are set to clash with their old Premier League title rivals, Manchester City, this upcoming Easter Weekend, with Arne Slot’s men only a match away from a trip to Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Before anyone gets too carried away, however, the Merseyside giants will have to overcome Pep Guardiola’s serial trophy winners, who have already been to Wembley this season, and been victorious, having lifted the EFL Cup at Arsenal’s expense.
There is some encouraging news on the injury front that could boost Liverpool’s chances of overcoming Guardiola side. at the Etihad, with all the latest ReadLiverpoolFC injury developments below.
The players who are long-term absentees
Unfortunately for the reigning Premier League champions, they have a long list of players in the Anfield treatment room for the foreseeable future.
Indeed, the likes of Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Waturo Endo will all likely be sidelined until next season, as they all recover from significant injury issues.
Both Bradley and Leoni remain out of action with serious knee injuries, but they both could play a role next campaign as Slot utilises his full camp, while Endo is a more senior figure, now, as he remains injury-stricken, having had to undergo ankle surgery.
The players who will likely be sidelined
While the trio just mentioned will have to grow used to no action, until the new season commences, it remains up in the air as to whether we will see Alisson play against Manchester City in the FA Cup.
It does appear likely that he will sit the game out, as another test for Giorgi Mamardashvilli could prove to be useful, with Alisson taking to social media – before the Brighton and Hove Albion match – to state that he will be out for “some time”.
Alongside the Brazilian, Alexander Isak surely won’t be thrown in against Guardiola’s men, but he is back in training, as he waits to make his long-awaited return to the first team ranks, after a horror injury was sustained in December.
That long-overdue return could come versus Paris Saint-Germain in the Reds’ first leg at the Parc Des Princes, as per the words of Arne Slot, which is a welcome boost to Liverpool’s ranks.
But, the Dutchman was insistent that there must be patience regarding the £125m Swede, with the Premier League-winning boss stating – “It is 100% sure fans will see the best of him next season.”
It will be intriguing to see if Federico Chiesa features in any capacity after the reserve attacker had to pull out of international duty with Italy due to a lack of match sharpness.
Salah and Ekitike latest
The good news has waited until last, as Liverpool could potentially welcome back Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike for this FA Cup showdown.
Ekitike had to limp off versus the Seagulls, but he was back fit and firing in the goals for France during the international break.
Moreover, Slot sounded as if he was encouraged by Salah’s recovery from injury when speaking before the break.
He said, rather optimistically: “We are hoping also with what Mo has shown in the past that he can recover faster than other players might in similar situations because he takes such good care of his body.
“History has shown that he can be earlier back than some others.
:But it’s only two weeks when we go again so let’s hope in that period of time he can be back.”
There is a hope that Salah will be fit enough for the game with Man City on Easter Weekend, with reports stating that he has responded well to treatment after suffering from a muscle problem against Brighton.
With the news of his Liverpool exit also in the air, Salah will surely be champing at the bit to return to first-team action, with the Egyptian up to eight goals in the FA Cup, across his near-decade association with the club.
Already winning one FA Cup as a Reds superstar, Salah will be hopeful he can collect another before the season is out, as Slot wrestles with some selection issues ahead of the game at the Etihad.
