LIVERPOOL INJURY NEWS AND EXPECTED RETURN DATES INCLUDING ANDY ROBERTSON AND DARWIN NUNEZ

Liverpool return to action after the international break when they face Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp will be without some key players for the crucial clash, which comes hours before their title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal play each other. The Reds have been hampered by injuries all season long and this weekend will be no exception, with the international break bringing yet more headaches for Klopp.

Liverpool sit joint top of the Premier League, behind Arsenal on goal difference, with 10 matches remaining. Sunday’s 2pm fixture against Brighton represents a great opportunity to put pressure on City and Arsenal ahead of their 4.30pm showdown at the Etihad Stadium.

Klopp will address the media later this week to give updates on his injury-stricken squad. But in the meantime, Mirror Football gives you a rundown on what we know about those who are doubtful for the match.

Andy Robertson

Liverpool were handed a fresh injury concern after Robertson was forced off injured while playing for Scotland on Tuesday night. He looked distraught as he limped off in the first half of their defeat against Northern Ireland with an ankle problem following a tough challenge. “He’ll go back to his club and they’ll assess him,” Scotland manager Steve Clarke said post-match. “Hopefully it's not too serious.” It’s unlikely he will be available this weekend.

Joel Matip

Matip will not play again for Liverpool this season due to an ACL injury sustained in December. Klopp has urged the club to give the experienced defender a new contract, but if they don’t he has already played his final game for Liverpool.

Alisson

Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper has been missing since the start of February with a muscle injury. Caoimhin Kelleher has proved to be an able deputy in between the posts and he will have to continue against Brighton, with Alisson not expected back until mid-April.

Stefan Bajcetic

The 19-year-old midfielder has only played twice this season and not at all since September due to a calf problem. Earlier this month Klopp gave a positive update: “He is in a much better place now. He had a long time [out], unfortunately, that's [why] we have to wait a little bit. But he is in his pre-season, and I think he will be part of team training after the international break.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold

The Liverpool right-back has been out with a knee ligament injury since mid-February. He is on the mend, but is unlikely to play against Brighton, with Klopp saying he had “a chance” of returning the week after the international break.

Diogo Jota

Klopp gave a gloomy prognosis when Jota suffered his knee injury against Brentford in February, saying he would be out for “months”. The Portuguese forward will certainly miss the Brighton game, but Klopp gave him the same chance as Alexander-Arnold of returning next week, meaning he could return for the Manchester United game on April 7.

Curtis Jones

Better news for Jones, who could return to the squad for the Brighton game. He sustained a knock to his ankle in the Brentford game last month, but is on the way back, with the international break providing time to recuperate.

Darwin Nunez

Nunez suffered a hamstring injury in the FA Cup loss to United and withdrew from the Uruguay squad in the international break. Klopp said it was “hopefully not bad” but we haven’t heard anything since. He could feature against Brighton, but Liverpool won’t want to risk anything.

Thiago Alcantara

The Spanish midfielder is unlikely to play again this season due to a thigh complaint. “There's no timescale,” Klopp said last month. “I don't know, to be honest. It's a couple of things [that] he has to do now from a medical point of view, and then I don't know if that will then mean that he can play again [this season].”

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2024-03-28T01:08:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd