Liverpool will be hopeful no more of their players sustain setbacks this week and next after Andy Robertson’s injury blow while in action for Scotland.
The Reds’ left-back was forced off with a shoulder injury during a Euro 2024 qualifier versus Spain, leaving Jurgen Klopp to face an anxious wait over his condition.
Robertson is not expected to be available for next weekend’s Merseyside Derby, though is not the only individual set to be missing for Liverpool.
We have rounded up a list of the players currently on the treatment table, below.
As mentioned above, Robertson has suffered a blow to his shoulder and could now be set for a spell on the sidelines.
Commenting on this unfortunate incident after Scotland’s defeat by Spain, ex-Liverpool coach and current boss of the Tartan Army, Steve Clarke, said: “It was an immediate decision to take him off, he’ll go back to his club, he’ll be assessed.
“Obviously he’s hurt his shoulder. We’ll have a look, obviously go back to his club. Always seems to happens when you lose one player in a position: we lose Kieran [Tierney] on the left side and then Andy’s picked up a shoulder injury.
“We’ll see how it is, see how it settles down and hopefully he’s good for his club as quickly as possible and he’s ready to help us in November.”
The Dutchman, who scored for Liverpool in a match versus Tottenham Hotspur that was marred by VAR controversy, left North London in a knee brace. But Klopp is hopeful Gakpo could be available for selection after the current international break.
“Cody, there is a good chance,” said the Reds’ boss. “He is already out of the brace, walks normal around, so from all the very, very bad opportunities and possibilities injury-wise, I think he nearly got the best but is still injured.”
Thiago Alcantara’s absence now stands at six months having not made an appearance since April. The Spaniard, who underwent hip surgery at the back end of last season, is yet to return to training after recently suffering another setback in his recovery.
Klopp said: “It is just, for [Thiago] himself especially, annoying. He had now two setbacks in the rehab, not massive but enough to take him off the pitch again. Obviously not the same injury, not at all, but a bit similar.
“It’s as annoying as it is for Stefan Bajcetic, who was there, played a few minutes and then played a few minutes and then felt something else. That’s how it is after long-term injuries from time to time.
“I don’t know and I will not put pressure on that [their returns] because I can’t anyway. If they will be back after the internationals, we will see that. Hopefully, it would be cool.”
In a similar position to Thiago, Bajcetic is a long-term absentee. The midfielder underwent adductor surgery in March before returning to the first-team fold in September for a Europa League clash with LASK Linz, which he followed up with a cameo display versus Leicester City six days later.
Bajcetic picked up a minor issue after these two appearances, though is not expected to be ruled out much longer.
The Republic of Ireland keeper was expected to start Liverpool’s Europa League home game with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, only to be involved in a training ground collision that left him requiring 12 stiches.
Kelleher is anticipated to be unavailable for several weeks, dealing his hopes of regular minutes in cup competitions a major blow.
The young right-back has been given time to rest after it emerged a stress fracture in his back had delayed his recovery process. Bradley is yet to play a competitive game for the Reds this term.
Offering an update on the 20-year-old ahead of the Reds’ trip to Brighton last weekend, Klopp remarked: “Conor is on the way back, he is running, but in that age group and with these kind of injuries you tend to give them rather three weeks more than not enough because it has to do with the growing process of the body and stuff like this. I couldn’t get this injury anymore, let me say it like that! And that’s why he needs a bit of time.”
