Liverpool receives massive injury boost after Boxing win

Liverpool receives massive injury boost after Boxing win

The Reds returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor on Boxing Day

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is still sidelined through injury
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is still sidelined through injury
Liverpool safely returned to the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 2-0 win over Burnley on Boxing Day.

Goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota ensured success for Jurgen Klopp’s side, as they continue to lead the way as we approach the 20-game mark. Having dominated most of the proceedings in Lancashire, Newcastle United await on New Year’s Day with the onus on continuing to build momentum.

Portugal international Jota returned from injury to make his mark late on at Turf Moor, latching onto a clever pass from Luis Diaz to double Liverpool’s advantage late on. Virgil van Dijk and youngster Jarell Quansah continued their partnership at centre-back.

With plenty of notable absentees, the Reds are once again putting in performances to be proud of without some of their most notable stars. With three games to come in ten days at the start of 2024, the mettle and fight of the Reds is once again likely to be tested.

Here’s how Klopp’s squad is looking overall, with their now just four days until they take to the pitch once again…

Kostas Tsimikas
The Greek defender suffered a nasty collision following a challenge from Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka on Saturday, resulting in his withdrawal. 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

Alexis Mac Allister
Mac Allister is edging closer to making a return to action, having been unavailable for selection since suffering a nasty-looking abrasion to his knee in the 1-0 win at Bramall Lane 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

Ben Doak
Ben Doak was recently forced off in an under-21s match against Chelsea after suffering what appeared to be a knee injury. It’s a huge blow during a time when Doak was beginning to enjoy a first-team role, with outings in both the Carabao Cup and Europa League.

The Scot is not expected to be rushed back anytime soon. Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders said of his condition: “That’s not a good one. He teared his lateral meniscus, which needs surgery.

“That one will take [a] longer time. He is young, he is a fit guy, he is a positive guy so for sure he will come back stronger, and we need him to come back with the same fire he has with the ball, how he was. He can take time and we will wait for him.”

Expected return date: Unknown

Thiago Alcantara
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara hasn’t featured for the Reds since a win over West Ham United back in April.

A hip issue has proven problematic for the tenacious midfielder, who underwent surgery in a bid to bring an end to the problem at play. The last update issued on Thiago came in November, with Klopp hopeful of seeing the No.6 back in action in January.

“It’s an ongoing thing,” explained the Reds’ boss. “And we cannot put any kind of pressure there as well, but we expect him to be back probably start of the New Year. It’s now already November, that would mean another four weeks, I would say that’s probably a realistic thing to try.

“We can’t wait, to be honest, to have him back. The player is just exceptional. I understand that you ask, but we can’t now have a week-by-week update, because that will not change a lot in this moment.”

Expected return date: January

Stefan Bajcetic
Stefan Bajcetic has endured a frustrating period for Liverpool after several injury problems.

He enjoyed a strong debut season, during a dismal period for the club, but saw his campaign end after a stress response in his adductor in March. Bajcetic returned in September with outings in the Carabao Cup and Europa League but his involvement against LASK Linz proved to be the last after suffering a calf issue.

A recovery date for the midfielder remains unconfirmed.

“With Stefan, it’s again one of these things,” Klopp said in November. “Let me say it like this, Stefan’s quality, potential, talent or whatever, everybody could see and it’s incredible. What a player.

“But he was not ready yet, that’s how it is. They’re still growing, these boys. They’re all different. We have other players with a different [skeletal growth], a different body, and OK that’s fine.

“With others it’s a bit too early, so we just have to put the brake on again and just wait until that’s all fine. Then Liverpool has a wonderful player, a wonderful player, to use.

“But there’s absolutely no time that we can put on that, and we will not, we just have to wait. He’s here, he’s training, he’s doing his stuff. We know how good he is, now we have to make sure that we help him to get a body to show that – and not only once, but then three times a week. We will get there, very good news for the club. In the moment, we cannot use him and that’s all.”

Expected return date: Unknown