The injury list is piling up at Liverpool with a host of first-team players sidelined.
A lacklustre start to the new Premier League season has seen the Reds draw against Fulham and Crystal Palace, leaving them winless from two games going into next Monday’s trip to Old Trafford to take on rock-bottom rivals Manchester United.
But they have not been helped by injuries. Jurgen Klopp even jokingly claimed a ‘witch’ must have been at the AXA Training Centre last week as Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino became the latest members of his squad to enter the treatment room.
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The pair joined a host of players on the sidelines for Monday’s match at Anfield against Palace, with Klopp’s lack of options laid bare by his attacking choices among his substitutes. There was some comfort to be found in the return to the bench of Naby Keita and Kostas Tsimikas, but several players remain unavailable.
So, ahead of the big showdown at United, here's a look at who is still out of action and when we might expect them to return.
Thiago Alcantara
The Spanish playmaker limped off in the opening-weekend draw at Fulham, and a scan the following day revealed a hamstring strain that could keep him out for up to six weeks. Klopp admitted prior to the Palace game that Thiago's injury is ‘not good’ but added that he hopes the timeframe is closer to four weeks than six.
Joel Matip
Matip was one of the unfortunate ones to be struck by the 'witch's curse' after complaining of a groin issue during training. He missed Monday’s draw with Palace and Klopp confirmed after that it ‘will be two weeks’ until the 31-year-old centre-back can return.
Roberto Firmino
Another to fall victim last week was Firmino, whose omission from the squad to face Palace was unexpected. The 30-year-old forward was left out as a precaution, but Klopp provided a promising update ahead of Monday’s clash at Old Trafford. He said: “Bobby was not enough in the end but will be fine probably from Wednesday on.”
Diogo Jota
Portugal international Jota is one of the longer-term absentees after a hamstring problem picked up on international duty resurfaced during pre-season. The 25-year-old attacker is yet to feature this season but there is hope he can return to on-pitch training come the end of the month.
Ibrahima Konate
France international centre-back Konate has also been out since pre-season after picking up a knee injury in the final friendly against Strasbourg. Similarly to Jota, the towering defender is expected to be out for the rest of August before being eased back into play.
Curtis Jones
The 21-year-old midfielder was pictured in a protective boot and crutches during the game against Strasbourg after picking up a calf problem in the Community Shield final. Jones, as with Konate and Jota, is expected to miss the next couple of weeks, but should return in early September.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Chamberlain's hamstring issue, picked up more than a month ago in Singapore, has been confirmed as "serious" by Klopp. It could could keep him out for a further extended period.
Anyone else?
Yes, unfortunately. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher couldn't get past the first day of pre-season training at Kirkby in early July when he complained of an issue that was seemingly first suffered when on international duty with the Republic of Ireland. He's expected to be back before the end of the month.
Teenage right-back Calvin Ramsay has had to wait for his first involvement since his summer arrival from Aberdeen with Liverpool instead choosing to address an old injury issue. Kaide Gordon , meanwhile, missed the start of pre-season and hasn't been seen since joining up with the squad for the training camp in Evian.
And, of course, Liverpool will be without Darwin Nunez for the next three games, at least, after he was sent off in the draw with Palace.
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