Liverpool

Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson: Liverpool injury news and return dates ahead of …

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1 year ago

May 5, 2023

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Diogo Jota, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson: Liverpool injury news and return dates ahead of …

The race for Champions League qualification could take another twist when Liverpool host Brentford on Saturday.

A solitary effort from Mohamed Salah secured the points against Fulham in midweek which saw the gap to fourth place reduced to just four points. Manchester United failed to extend the gap on Thursday night as Alexis Mac Allister’s stoppage-time penalty earned a crucial win for Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Argentine’s composure helped the Seagulls to within five points of Liverpool going into the next round of Premier League fixtures. Jurgen Klopp’s side are on a five-match winning record and have extra incentive to extend their run as they look to avenge the defeat in the reverse fixture against the Bees.

AS IT HAPPENED: Jurgen Klopp press conference

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So far during the campaign, selection has been heavily disrupted by injuries has resulted in Liverpool suffering lack of form across all competitions. And with that in mind, below is the latest injury news.

Diogo Jota

Despite scoring the winner against Tottenham Hotspur and coming on against Fulham, Diogo Jota has yet to return to full fitness as he nurses further issues.

Jurgen Klopp confirmed that the Portugal international “didn’t do a lot” in the preparations for the visit of Thomas Frank’s side on Saturday.

“Diogo has a back issue, the bruised rib, he could train yesterday but didn’t do a lot to be honest. He wasn’t in any danger of contact so we have to see there,” the Liverpool boss revealed.

Expected return date: Unknown

Roberto Firmino

A muscle problem continues to plague Roberto Firmino’s final months at Liverpool and will keep him out of Saturday’s encounter.

Already, the issue has forced him to miss the last four wins. Klopp previously held hope that the Brazilian will be fit enough to play for Liverpool before his contract expires at the end of the training.

Addressing the media on Friday, the German confirmed there’s hopes he will return next week, he said: “Bobby is not in team training yet, we hope he can start next week in team training.”

Expected return date: Mid-April

Jordan Henderson

The latest doubt from the AXA Training Centre comes in the form of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

The Englishman went down in discomfort against Fulham following a challenge late on. He managed to continue to see out the game as Liverpool claimed the points against Fulham.

However, it was confirmed that he underwent scans for the issue as they await results to see if he’s fit enough to play against Brentford.

Klopp said: “Hendo [Jordan Henderson] we will have to see. He had a scan yesterday, did not get the results yet. It will not be a big thing but maybe it’s enough to rule him out for tomorrow I don’t know that yet.”

Expected return date: Unknown

Thiago Alcantara

Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Thiago Alcantara will miss the rest of the season after undergoing hip surgery.

News emerged this week that the midfielder would go under the knife for the issue that has forced him to miss two months between February and April, Klopp confirmed that the two are linked.

He became the latest Liverpool player to be ruled out for the rest of the season after Calvin Ramsay and Stefan Bajcetic.

“Thiago will have surgery and is out for the rest of the season. It’s the hip again, I would expect him to be ready for pre-season. That’s why we do it now (operation),” Klopp revealed.

Expected return date: Pre-season.

Stefan Bajcetic

Stefan Bajcetic has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering from an abductor injury.

Bajcetic was brought off in the latter stages of the 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth and the midfielder has now confirmed he will miss the rest of the season with the injury.

“Unfortunately I’ve picked up an injury that will keep me out until the end of the season,” Bajcetic wrote on Instagram. “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.

“I would also like to say thank you to you reds for all the support through the season and I assure you I will do my best to be back stronger than ever.”

Expected return date: July pre-season.

Calvin Ramsay

Calvin Ramsay is another player who is out for the rest of the season after having knee surgery. The Scotland full-back has made two appearances for the Reds this season.

He was initially on the road to recovery from injury and made appearances for Barry Lewtas’ U21s but suffered a setback that required him to go under the knife.

Klopp has already confirmed that the injury is almost certain to keep the defender out of action for the remainder of the season.

Expected return date: July pre-season.

Suspended

Liverpool currently have no players unavailable through suspension.

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Liverpool suffer fresh injury doubt as seven players could miss Brentford clash

Liverpool injury news ahead of the Premier League fixture against Brentford.

Jordan Henderson is doubtful for Liverpool’s clash against Brentford at Anfield on Saturday. The Reds skipper underwent a scan for a minor issue after Wednesday night’s 1-0 victory over Fulham.

Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Henderson’s injury isn’t significant but Liverpool are awaiting news on a scan to see whether he can feature. The Liverpool boss said: “Hendo we have to see. Yesterday, he had a scan and didn’t get the results yet. Won’t be a big thing but we have to see. Maybe it will be enough to rule him out for tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Roberto Firmino is still not available because of a muscle injury. Naby Keita is another who will not be back available, having not featured since returning from the international break with Guinea in March. Diogo Jota continues to nurse a back injury and did train on Thursday – but did not ‘do a lot’.

Klopp said: “Diogo has his back issue, the bruised rib. He could train yesterday but didn’t do a lot, to be honest. He was not really in danger, not in contact and we have to see there. Bobby not yet in team training, we hope he can start next week.”

Thiago Alcantara (hip), Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) and Calvin Ramsay (knee) are all out for the rest of the season.

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Souness Lifts Lid On Keane And Neville Rage After 7-0 Anfield Calamity

Graeme Souness bade farewell to his long-term gig as a Sky Sports pundit this week, celebrating his final game with the broadcaster after 15 years in the pundit’s chair.

He has at times cut a frosty figure in the studio, but has also given us some iconic moments down through the years.

One of the most memoerable came this season, back in March, when Souness’ former club Liverpool laid waste to Manchester United in a stunning 7-0 win at Anfield.

It was one of the most shocking results in Premier League history, and Souness’ fellow pundits Gary Neville and Roy Keane were visibly shell shocked in the Sky Sports studio post-match.

Speaking to Simon Jordan this week, Souness reflected on his punditry career, and said that Keane and Neville were “boiling” – in an element which only added to an already memorable day for the Liverpool legend.

Graeme Souness says Liverpool’s 7-0 win v United was best day of his punditry career

Graeme Souness and Gary Neville memorably clashed after Liverpool’s destruction of Manchester United at Anfield in March.

All SEVEN goals with comms cam, anyone? 🍿🎙️ pic.twitter.com/DVlnqhqNVs

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 6, 2023

Despite Neville’s former club shipping six second half goals en route to an historically bad loss, the ex-United captain argued that they had mostly been unlucky, and that Liverpool had not played as well as the scoreline suggested.

Reflecting on that surreal day, Graeme Souness said that Neville and fellow ex-United skipper Roy Keane were both fuming in the studio post-match – but said that Keane took things far more gracefully than Neville did:

Roy was boiling inside but took it gracefully. He knew his team hadn’t turned up, they’d been miserable.

Gary chose to see it that Man United weren’t that bad, and Liverpool weren’t that good.

We turned up before the game – before we go on the air, there’s a bit of banter amongst us. I was asked the question off air – what I though the result would be.

I said, ‘I don’t know why I think this, but Liverpool will have a really good day today. I think they’ll win and they’ll win well.’

Half an hour later I was on air and Gary said to me, ‘are you going to repeat what you said off air?’ I did.

Liverpool did exactly that. After the game, we were up in the studio and there were the four of us – Carra, Gary, and Roy. In one of the breaks, Gary said, ‘Liverpool weren’t very good today.’

I said, ‘well, you called me out before the game and I repeated on air what I was willing to say off air. Are you willing to do the same?’ He was reluctant to do it.

Souness remains a club legend at Liverpool from his playing days, and said that seeing his former club win in such unexpectedly spectacular fashion was one of the highlights of his 20-year punditry career.

I have to say, I enjoyed that bit of television as much as any television I’ve worked on in the last 20 years. My team beat their biggest rivals 7-0. It was a great day for me all round.

Souness was speaking on the Up Front podcast with Simon Jordan.

Since that 7-0 loss, Liverpool and Manchester United have enjoyed differing fortunes, with Liverpool going on an impressive late surge of form to reignite their hopes of snatching a European place for next season.

After a brilliant start under Erik Ten Hag, United have faltered ever since that defeat at Anfield, and are even nervously looking over their shoulder at Liverpool, who could yet claim the final Champions League place.

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