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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Mark Wakefield

Mohamed Salah, Thiago, Luis Diaz: Liverpool injury news and return dates ahead of Arsenal

Liverpool will be resting up before gradually start preparing for their next Premier League fixture this weekend.

The Reds take on league leaders Arsenal on Sunday as they hope to get their quest for a top-four finish back on track. Liverpool were held to a goalless draw with Chelsea on Tuesday night, to follow on from their 4-1 loss to Manchester City last weekend.

Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that some of his injured or unavailable players recover in time to feature against Arsenal. These include the likes of Luis Diaz, Virgil van Dijk, Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita.

And here is the full list of Reds players currently sidelined - and their potential return dates...

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp confirms Luis Diaz return date as Liverpool handed injury boost

READ MORE: Liverpool position escapes summer transfer scrutiny as problems grow bigger

Naby Keita

Naby Keita is currently on the sidelines with a muscle injury he sustained while on international duty with Guinea.

The midfielder has missed the matches against Manchester City and Chelsea since returning from representing his country and it is unclear when he is set to feature for the first-team.

Klopp did not mention Keita's fitness in his latest pre-match press conference, however the 28-year-old was seen being put through his paces during a training session yesterday afternoon.

Expected return date: Unknown.

Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz has been out with a knee injury since the start of October, but has now returned to full first-team training. The Colombia international was originally due to return in December, but suffered a setback that resulted in surgery and extended his time on the sidelines.

Diaz is now nearing a return to action, with Liverpool releasing a video from training last week (March 30) that showed Diaz taking part in full training with his team-mates.

Left out of the squad for matches against City and Chelsea, Klopp will again leave the former Porto man out of his plans this weekend having set a targeted return of the Reds' meeting with Leeds on April 17.

"The plan with Luis is that he will be available 100 per cent for Leeds. It looks good, everything is fine, but it was a long injury so we have to be careful. We will probably not involve him for Sunday," said the Reds' boss.

Expected return date: Leeds United (A) - April 17

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk missed Liverpool's draw with Chelsea on Tuesday night due to illness.

The absence of the centre-back was one of six changes that Klopp made to the side that lost to Man City at the weekend. The Dutchman was replaced by Joel Matip in the starting line-up.

Van Dijk is now set to feature against Arsenal, having made a full recovery. Klopp said on Friday: "Virgil was completely normal and is back in training."

Expected return date: Arsenal (H) - April 9

Thiago Alcantara

Thiago Alcantara has been sidelined since early February with a hip flexor injury.

The Spaniard had yet to make a return to Liverpool first-team training before the international break, but he has since taken part in sessions.

Thiago missed the games against Man City and Chelsea, but is now in line to make his return against Arsenal on Sunday. Issuing an update on the midfielder earlier today, Klopp said: "He was not out that long and trained three or four times with the team and might be available. We will have to check him he feels today."

Expected return date: Arsenal (H) - April 9

Stefan Bajcetic

Bajcetic has been the breakthrough star of Liverpool's season.

The 18-year-old midfielder made 19 appearances in all competitions, scoring his first senior goal in the 3-1 Boxing Day win at Aston Villa, before picking up an adductor injury in March that he confirmed would rule him out for the season.

Bajcetic said on social media: "Unfortunately I've picked up an injury that will keep me out until the end of the season. It's very sad to say goodbye to this amazing season for me but I understand this is part of football and will only make me stronger physically and mentally."

Expected return date: July pre-season

Calvin Ramsay

Calvin Ramsay suffered a knee injury earlier this year and is set to spend the rest of the season on the sidelines.

Ramsay has made just two first-team appearances in his debut season at Anfield since moving from Aberdeen last summer.

Liverpool will hope to have the right-back bac in time for pre-season training in July.

Expected return date: July pre-season

Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Arthur Melo, Joe Gomez

Liverpool fans will be hoping Mohamed Salah is fit to start against Arsenal after the Egyptian was missing from training on Thursday.

Salah was absent from pictures released by the club as they stepped up their preparations for the Gunners at the AXA Training Centre.

The ECHO's Ian Doyle reported that, along with Diogo Jota, Joe Gomez and Arthur Melo, Thursday's session was a second day recovery, meaning any minor knocks or niggles were being assessed.

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