Up-to-date injury updates for Liverpool ahead of Brighton, with Darwin Núñez expected to return in due course. However, there are still a few weeks until a few important players return to action.
After the season’s final international break, Liverpool is back in action this coming weekend. On Sunday, the Reds will host Brighton at Anfield, and Jürgen Klopp will be hoping his team can defeat Roberto De Zerbi’s team to start the new season of club football.
In these closing weeks of his tenure at Liverpool, 56-year-old Klopp will want to send off on the best possible note. Every game matters and every outcome matters because Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool are all still vying for the championship. It’s crucial that the Reds defeat Brighton and take all three points.
With players returning to the field, Liverpool’s treatment room was starting to get smaller heading into the international break. Fortunately for Klopp, the international break was kind and no players returned hurt.
However, Klopp still has long-term injuries to deal with, so it’s unclear who will be available for Sunday’s match at Anfield. Here’s the most recent information on those players’ conditions and potential return dates. With ten Premier League games remaining in the current campaign, it might be crucial to bring as many players back as possible.
Darwin Núñez
After Liverpool’s 4-3 FA Cup quarterfinal loss to Manchester United, the Uruguayan striker withdrew out of his country’s two international friendlies with a hamstring injury. However, Klopp has stated that Núñez is healthy and prepared for the match against Brighton.
In his press conference prior to the Brighton match, Klopp discussed the 24-year-old, saying: “He completed his rehabilitation during the week, trained the first day partially since we are back partially and since then he is in full training.” Date of return: March 31, Brighton.
Ibrahima Konaté and Curtis Jones
Jones was supposed to return to action for Liverpool following the international break, but Klopp stated at his pregame press conference against Brighton that Jones might not be able to play. “Curtis, I’m not sure if he is available, but he’s back in training,” Klopp added. Jones hasn’t appeared on the field since February 17’s victory over Brentford.
Meanwhile, Konaté will be a contender versus Brighton. “Ibou was just an extra day of rest,” Klopp remarked, indicating that the Frenchman is healthy and prepared to play on Sunday. Potential return dates: Jones might need to make a comeback against Sheffield United on April 4, but Konaté is prepared for Brighton.
Alisson Becker and Andy Robertson
Due to a severe hamstring injury, Alisson hasn’t played since February. Klopp said at his press conference prior to Brighton that he won’t be back on the field until late April. Caoimhín Kelleher will thus keep filling in as goalie.
Klopp, though, had higher hopes for Robertson. He may not be sidelined for as long as first thought, even if he did not exercise with the squad on Friday. He might not be out as long as was initially thought when he was knocked out. “[Andy] Robertson will approach things cautiously, day by day. The Scottish left-back won’t train today [Friday], but it’s not as bad [as first thought], according to Klopp. Alisson is expected to return by the end of April, while Robertson might do so earlier.
Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold
Jota and Alexander-Arnold are getting close to returning, and that time of year should come in April. The Athletic claims that Alexander-Arnold is almost ready to resume training, but Liverpool isn’t pushing him back too soon following an injury-plagued season. With the right-back, Liverpool will probably choose to go cautiously, although an April return date has been set.
Jota hasn’t played since February’s 4-1 victory against Brentford, though. He is not considered to be too far away, but similar to Alexander-Arnold, the general assumption seems to be that he will return sometime in April. Potential comeback dates: Jota and Alexander-Arnold at some time in April.
Stefan Bajčetić and Joël Matip
Matip has made significant progress toward his recuperation from the ACL injury he sustained against Fulham in December, at least in the eyes of one supporter. Given that his contract was set to expire this summer, it seemed as though he had played his final game for the team. This week, however, the Daily Mail revealed that Klopp informed the audience during the open session that Matip was out jogging on the grass for the first time, which means he could play at least one more time for the Reds, although he is facing a race against time.
Playing just twice following his triumph the previous season, Bajčetić has had an incredibly frustrating season. In order to make sure he is prepared to join the team, Klopp disclosed prior to the international break that he was going through his own pre-season. He is expected to play again this season, however his exact return date is still unknown. Next week, he’ll train with the U21 team. Dates of potential return unknown.
Alcântara Thiago and Ben Doak
For the most part of the campaign, neither Thiago nor Doak had been seen. This summer marks Thiago’s contract expiration, and he has probably played his final game wearing a red shirt. This season, he made a single appearance on the field during the loss to Arsenal before suffering another setback and disappearing from the game. Klopp has said that he’s not sure if he’ll play this season.
Due to a knee issue, Doak had to have surgery back in December. His chances of being included in Scotland’s squad for Euro 2024 are all but vanished as he has not appeared since. Despite this, he was kept in Liverpool’s Europa League roster for the knockout stages, but with just six weeks left in the season, there is still no word on when he will return. Potential return dates include Thiago’s season after next and Doak’s, if at all, late in the campaign.
