Liverpool currently have nine first-team players out through injury, but Jurgen Klopp can expect to have at least three of them back in the next two weeks.
It’s been a continuous narrative throughout the Reds’ rocky start to the season, with injuries plaguing every position on the field.
This is no different ahead of the final games before the international break, of which there is now one less following the postponement of the match with Wolves.
Here’s the latest on nine injuries within the first-team squad and when they can be expected to return.
Kevin Kelleher
Injury: GroinOut since: Jul 4 Expected return: Unknown
Kelleher has been sidelined since the first day of pre-season, having been diagnosed with a groin problem which Klopp insists was overlooked while on duty with the Republic of Ireland.
The 23-year-old looked set to return at the end of August, with the manager revealing he was due to undergo “normal goalkeeping training” but remained absent for the trip to Napoli.
It remains to be seen when Kelleher is back in the fold.
Ibrahima Konate
Injury: KneeOut Since: July 31 Expected Return: Late September
The Frenchman suffered a knock to his knee in a 3-0 friendly loss to Strasbourg at the end of pre-season, and has yet to return to full training.
However, earlier this month, Klopp explained that Konate was due to return “during and around the international break”, suggesting he could be part of the squad for the match with Brighton on October 1.
calvin ramsey
Injury: Return Since: July 4 Expected Return: Unknown
Like Kelleher, Ramsay’s summer signing hasn’t been involved in training since the first day of pre-season, with Klopp describing his problem as “something to do with age and growth.”
However, Klopp added that the right-back is “really getting closer and closer”, and there is a chance he could join full training before the end of September.
jordan henderson
Injury: Hamstring Out Since: Aug 31 Expected Return: Late Sept
The injury that landed Liverpool in action late in the transfer market, Henderson, suffered a hamstring problem in a 2-1 win over Newcastle, leading to the loan signing of Arthur.
It was later reported that the captain would be facing around three weeks out, with Klopp expecting him back after the international break.
Pencil in Brighton on October 1 as Henderson’s likely return.
naby keita
Injury: ThighOut since: Aug 21 Expected return: Late September
The situation surrounding Keita is strange.
While the timing of the No. 8’s injury, amid reports he is unhappy with his position at the club, is suspicious, Klopp has insisted it is genuine and would keep him out “for a while”.
But while that prompted Liverpool to omit Keita from the Champions League squad for the group stage, hinting he would be out until at least November, he has since been called up by Guinea for the September international break.
“His situation is improving and he is even ahead,” manager Kaba Diawara said after naming his team.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Injury: Hamstring Out since: July 15 Expected return: October at the earliest
Long absent, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been out since sustaining a serious hamstring injury in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace during pre-season.
“It’s a hamstring,” Klopp explained shortly after.
“We all hate this word, we hate the injury, but it happens from time to time and now Ox was the one.”
Since then, reports have claimed that the earliest Liverpool’s No. 15 could return is in October, but he is likely to be lost for longer, with Klopp’s latest update maintaining that he will be “out for a while”.
curtis jones
Injury: Calf Out Since: Early September Expected Return: Unknown
Having returned to the Liverpool squad for the 2-1 win over Newcastle, Jones suffered another setback that ruled him out against Everton and Napoli.
“It’s not as bad as the first time,” Klopp said this week, “but it’s bad enough that he doesn’t take part in team training again, which doesn’t help much.”
Fabio Carvalho
Injury: Dead leg Out since: September 3 Expected return: Vuelta vs. Ajax
Carvalho is one of the few Liverpool players to benefit from the postponement of the clash with Wolves, with the Portuguese having more time to recover from a dead leg.
There had been hopes that the 20-year-old would return to face Wolves at Anfield, but it now seems almost certain that he will be involved again when Ajax visit on 13 September.
Gordon Pedestal
Injury: Pelvis Out since: February Expected return: Unknown
For a long time, Gordon’s situation was a mystery, as the teenager had not been in action since February.
But it has been revealed that he is currently suffering from a pelvic injury, which is the latest in a series of physical problems since his first-team breakthrough.
No return date has been set for Gordon at this stage, with Liverpool being “careful” about his recovery, but the hope is that he can return to training in the near future.
