Alexis Mac Allister, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip - Liverpool injury list and expected return dates
Liverpool could be without a number of players for Sunday's Premier League clash against Manchester United - and beyond
Liverpool are set to be without six players for Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
The Reds are preparing take on their old rivals at Anfield and maintain their spot at the top of the Premier League table. Jurgen Klopp’s side have consistently produced victories, even when not at their best, and have had to contend with several injury blows in recent weeks.
It has been confirmed that Alexis Mac Allister will miss the game against Man United. Speaking on Wednesday, Klopp explained he has not had a player experience the same knee issue as Mac Allister, who was withdrawn in the win over Sheffield United earlier this month. "I am obviously not a doctor but they have explained it to me every single day why he is not ready yet and it's a bit more tricky than we thought in the first moment," the Liverpool boss said.
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Mac Allister is joined by Joel Matip on the sidelines after the defender underwent successful surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament injury. However, the centre-back is unlikely to feature for the Reds again this season. Meanwhile, Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Diogo Jota are Liverpool’s other absentees.
As the Reds continue to navigate their busy December fixture list, here’s a look at when these players could potentially return...
Alexis Mac Allister
The midfielder picked up a knee injury in the win over Sheffield United. Despite taking a stud to the knee, Mac Allister. played on before later being withdrawn and Klopp explained that the club is taking it day-by-day, in terms of his recovery.
"It's pretty painful and actually Macca is a super tough guy but we have to make sure there is no infection and nothing happens and that is important,” Klopp said. “So it was a really...I've never had this injury with one of my players before.
“But now we have it and I hope it will not take that long to heal but I would like to say to it is day by day and it looks like he could be ready for the next game but they say he will not be ready for that as well, so I hope the next three or four days he makes big steps and we will see."
Potential return date: December 20, West Ham United (H)
Joel Matip
Matip was taken off in the win over Fulham at Anfield, with Klopp subsequently confirming the centre-back had ruptured his ACL. Matip has since undergone surgery but faces an extended spell on the sidelines. Unfortunately, the 32-year-old is also in the final year of his contract at Liverpool.
Potential return date: Unknown
Diogo Jota
The Portuguese forward last featured for the Reds in the draw at Manchester City last month. He has returned to the grass after making progress in his recovery from a muscle injury but the game against Manchester United may prove to be too soon for Jota.
Potential return date: December 20, West Ham United (H)
Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic
The remaining trio of absentees are not expected to return to action until the New Year.
Robertson has been absent since suffering a dislocated shoulder on international duty in October. The full-back required surgery and Kostas Tsimikas has been deputising at left-back.
Meanwhile, Thiago has not played since April and Klopp admitted that the midfielder had suffered a setback. Speaking on December 1, the Liverpool manager said: "Nothing [has] changed. We said that he needs time, and we will give him that time. As easy as that. [We] see him every day; he is still a fantastic guy who works hard to get back." However, the Thiago's social media activity this week has seen the Spaniard seemingly tease a return to first-team action.
In terms of Bajcetic, the youngster is suffering from growing issues and the Reds refused to put a timeframe on when he could be back in action.
Potential return dates: January 2024