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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Liverpool injury update: Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson latest news and return dates

Liverpool’s strong season continued on Sunday.

Despite suffering in the first half, the Reds overcame Arsenal to progress into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Already top of the Premier League and having sailed into the Europa League last 16, Jurgen Klopp’s side are flying.

Still, the month of January threatens to be a difficult one after they lost both Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo to international commitments.

Having lost their services for a while, Klopp will need his other key players available in order to hold off a Manchester City side who looked to have clicked back into gear.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest Liverpool injuries.

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Djik missed the victory against Arsenal due to illness.

Klopp, however, confirmed he is hopeful the Reds skipper will be well enough to feature in their Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham on Wednesday.

“Yes, I’m hopeful, but I don’t know,” he said.

“He came and [had to leave]. It’s difficult for Virg to look s***, but he did, and so we sent him home again.”

Potential return date: Wednesday 10 January vs Fulham

Dominik Szoboszlai

Summer signing Dominik Szoboszlai was forced off during the win over Newcastle on New Year’s Day and will miss the Fulham game with a hamstring problem.

"It is an injury. Muscle, hamstring,” confirmed Klopp last week.

“But now we have to see. Dom is very positive, doesn't have a lot of pain but we have to wait a little bit. So, no chance obviously for Sunday, not for Wednesday. No. And then we will see, after that hopefully he might be back but we don't know."

Potential return date: Sunday 21 January vs Bournemouth

Szoboszlai is missing with a hamstring injury (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Andy Robertson

Andy Robertson, one of the key players of the Klopp era, has not played since undergoing shoulder surgery back in October.

Last month, Klopp suggested the Scotland international could be aiming to return towards the end of January or beginning of February.

“Robbo still needs more range in his shoulder,” said the Reds boss.

“Obviously it was a big surgery. [He is] still not even close to team training or whatever. Can do a lot, everything without using the arm properly, which is obviously good but on the other side shows us we still have a long way to go. For sure, I think, the full January he has to get closer and closer."

Potential return date: February 2024

Kostas Tsimikas

Robertson’s understudy Kostas Tsimikas broke his collarbone during the draw with Arsenal in the Premier League last month.

Potential return date: Unknown

Tsimikas broke his collarbone against Arsenal last month (PA)

Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara has not played at all this season as he recovers from hip surgery during the summer.

Klopp hinted the midfielder could be back in training this month, although there will be caution applied when it comes to his return.

"I think Thiago will be at one point in team training [in January],” said the German last month.

“Thiago is in a very good moment as well but we just have to make sure we don't use him then too early. The hip thing in and around that area is just a long-term thing as well.

“There were for sure days where he could have easily trained but it's all about how can he be back then in the long term, and that's what we are working on."

Potential return date: Unknown

Stefan Bajcetic

Stefan Bajcetic has not been able to build on what was a promising breakthrough campaign last time out with many appearances this time around.

The midfielder has only played twice this season and, like Thiago, Klopp has confirmed the club are being cautious about his return.

“It's a growing issue, it's not growing [increasing] but because of his growing, his age and stuff like this. So we just have to be careful.

“He could train today fully and then maybe tomorrow as well and then not [for] five weeks. It's a medical decision, it's not by the boy, it's not by me. It's just that's how you have to do it if something like this happens. And that makes it so annoying for the boy."

Potential return date: Unknown

Joel Matip

Joel Matip underwent surgery on a serious knee injury sustained last month is unlikely to play again this season.

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