Liverpool’s injury crisis continues as Joël Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold join the list of players set to sit out. Including these two, Liverpool have eight senior players who are unavailable due to various injuries.
Both Matip and Alexander-Arnold will miss two weeks. Matip has a calf problem, while his English team-mate injured her ankle.
At the weekend, the Reds suffered a 3-2 loss to Arsenal. Following the defeat, Liverpool sits 10th in the Premier League table. Those league-leading Gunners have a 14-point cushion over Liverpool, with Arsenal playing one more game. In fact, Jürgen Klopp’s team failed to win a league game in September. The club’s last league victory was at home to Newcastle on 31 August. Of course, Liverpool only had two league games during September. The Premier League postponed two of those games.
Injuries are an issue for Klopp in the early stages of this campaign. In particular, his midfield took a hit with problems from Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones, Arthur Melo and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Fortunately, Henderson and Thiago have recovered. However, Liverpool are still without the other four midfielders.
Liverpool’s injury crisis in 2022/23
Jones, who has not featured at all so far this season, is recovering from a fractured tibia. Recently, the midfielder returned to training. His return to full fitness and availability for the national team is on the near horizon.
Klopp left Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain out of the club’s Champions League squads. They will most likely fall in the playtime pecking order. However, the coach added that they still need more time to recover from muscle injuries.
Arthur arrived at Anfield in the final stages of the summer transfer window. In fact, he arrived to alleviate Liverpool’s injury crisis. Unfortunately, the Brazilian has encountered his own problems. Arthur has only managed 13 total minutes on the field for the Reds so far. Now, he seems to be missing three or four months after his quadriceps surgery.
Andy Robertson and Luis Diaz have also been injured. The two very important players are the biggest losses for Klopp and company. Diaz also suffered an injury in the Arsenal match. He is scheduled to miss two months due to knee problems. However, Robertson could be ready to show up by the weekend. Liverpool’s next Premier League game is against Manchester City on Sunday.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
