Liverpool have been rocked by a massive injury blow on the eve of their key Premier League showdown against Arsenal, with reports claiming that Arthur Melo will miss the rest of 2022.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed in Friday’s pre-match press conference that the Brazilian midfielder, a deadline day loan signing from Juventus, was a new face in a busy treatment room at Anfield after suffering a muscular injury in training that kept him sidelined for the 2-0 home Champions League win over Rangers on Tuesday evening.
Arthur was also ruled out of Sunday’s trip to Emirates Stadium and the manager said further assessment was required before determining exactly how much time he would miss.
It appears that Liverpool are now facing a worst-case scenario over the 26-year-old, whom The Athletic report needs surgery and will likely miss between three to four months while he recovers, ruling him out of action for the remainder of the calendar year.
It is a desperate blow for Arthur, who had been trying to earn a spot in Klopp’s midfield after a late, injury-inspired U-turn from the German during the latter stages of the transfer window led to a surprise deal on summer deadline day.
The former Barcelona playmaker had made just one senior cameo to date for Liverpool and none in the Premier League, being introduced as a late substitute in the 4-1 Champions League drubbing by Napoli in Italy last month.
Arthur later turned out for Barry Lewtas’s Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy in a bid to boost his match fitness, playing 63 minutes of a 1-0 defeat by League Two strugglers Rochdale at Spotland before being replaced by Jay Spearing.
Liverpool have endured torrid injury luck during their worst start to a season under Klopp’s tenure that sees them sit 10th and a full 13 points off the title pace ahead of a clash with high-flying Arsenal, with several key players missing time already this term.
Midfield is an area where they have been particularly hard hit, with Thiago Alcantara missing several weeks and the likes of Jordan Henderson having also dealt with injuries and Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all still on the sidelines.
