Who’s out, who might step up?

It could actually occur to any staff, at any time, however proper now it’s Premier League champions Liverpool who’re battling their manner by means of a bona fide harm disaster.

With a vital sport towards Leicester Metropolis developing on Sunday, a sport through which the Reds might set a brand new membership report by going 64 residence league video games unbeaten, it is possible that supervisor Jurgen Klopp shall be with out at the least 5 and probably as many as eight of his first-team gamers.

It is in defence the place the crunch is most acute, with Klopp having only one senior centre-back to select from in the mean time, however there are points everywhere in the pitch.

Right here is the total extent of the choice woes at Anfield as issues stand, assuming nothing else goes flawed on Merseyside between now and seven:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Bounce to: Centre-backs | Full-backs | Midfielders | Forwards

CENTRE-BACKS

What is the harm?

Van Dijk lately underwent surgical procedure to restore the anterior cruciate ligament harm that pressured him to limp out of the Merseyside derby at Everton on Oct. 17.

How lengthy will they be out?

Liverpool confirmed final week that the Dutchman’s process was successful however he is nonetheless anticipated to overlook a lot of the rest of the season.

Who can change him?

As the one match senior centre-back on the membership, Joel Matip will stand in for Van Dijk — although it is a tall order changing an ever-present pillar who performed all 3,420 minutes of final season’s title win.

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Steve Nicol reacts to the information that Liverpool’s centre-back Joe Gomez is ready for a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

What is the harm?

Gomez sustained a severe knee harm whereas coaching with England forward of their latest pleasant towards the Republic of Eire.

How lengthy will they be out?

Whereas Liverpool have since confirmed that Gomez underwent a profitable surgical procedure to restore his ruptured patella tendon, the membership refused to place a timescale on his return. As an alternative, the Reds merely said that whereas the versatile defender will make a full restoration, the problem is “more likely to rule him out for a major a part of the rest of 2020-21.”

Who can change him?

Dejan Lovren would maybe be the best candidate, however sadly he was offered to Zenit St Petersburg again in July. As an alternative, it appears like 23-year-old Nat Phillips will proceed to deputise at centre-half after impressing on his debut towards West Ham, regardless of initially being advised he can be leaving Liverpool within the final switch window.

What is the harm?

In fact, defensive midfielder Fabinho had been protecting at centre-half as a result of Reds’ mounting harm woes. Nonetheless, he lasted for simply half-hour of Liverpool’s residence Champions League outing towards FC Midtjylland on Oct. 27 earlier than having to come back off with a hamstring downside. The Brazilian underwent a collection of scans which subsequently noticed him dominated out till after the worldwide break.

How lengthy will they be out?

Klopp has since confirmed that Fabinho’s muscle harm is simply a “minor” concern and that he must be in line to return at some point.

Who can change him?

Teenager Rhys Williams was initially introduced in as a alternative for Fabinho, but it surely appears like he too is now dealing with a health battle after taking a knock on England under-21 responsibility.

Rhys Williams

What is the harm?

Williams changed Fabinho towards Midtjylland after which began at centre-back towards Atalanta however was stored out of the fray for England U21s after supervisor Aidy Boothroyd confirmed the 19-year-old was battling a “stiff hip.”

How lengthy will they be out?

It was felt to be in Williams’ greatest pursuits to launch him from worldwide responsibility and return again to Liverpool to convalesce, although there have been no additional updates on his situation since.

Who can change them?

Signed from PEC Zwolle for £4 million final summer time, Sepp van den Berg is an 18-year-old centre-half who has been enjoying with the Liverpool U23s. Van den Berg might doubtlessly be used to plug the hole, although it could seem the younger Dutchman is not actually on Klopp’s first-team radar regardless of the spiralling harm disaster he faces.

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FULL-BACKS

What is the harm?

Alexander-Arnold was initially taken off through the 1-1 draw towards Manchester Metropolis with a hamstring harm however has since succumbed to an extra calf tweak that dominated him out of collaborating in all three of England’s fixtures through the worldwide break.

How lengthy will they be out?

The correct-back has stepped up his rehab schedule at Liverpool’s new state-of-the-art coaching facility, however remains to be unlikely to be able to face Leicester Metropolis this weekend. The truth is, there are fears that he may very well miss the Reds’ subsequent three Premier League fixtures in addition to the rest of their Champions League group-stage marketing campaign, which ends with a visit to Danish aspect FC Midtjylland on Dec. 9.

Who can change him?

Fortunately, in James Milner, Liverpool can name on a trusty stalwart to fill in nearly wherever on the pitch — with the veteran utility man coming off the bench to interchange the injured Alexander-Arnold on the Etihad. There’s additionally Neco Williams, although the 19-year-old right-back has harm issues of his personal after sitting out of Wales‘ sport towards Republic of Eire on Sunday with a sore foot.

What is the harm?

Robertson performed all 120 minutes for Scotland as they certified for Euro 2020 with a hard-fought playoff towards Serbia, then sat out towards Slovakia three days later with a decent hamstring — inflicting Liverpool followers to collectively maintain their breath.

How lengthy will they be out?

The left-back then returned to play 90 minutes for the Scots towards Israel within the third of their worldwide fixtures, so it is trying possible that he’ll be in high-quality fettle for Sunday’s sport towards Leicester.

Who can change him?

Whereas it appears like Robertson shall be high-quality to face the Foxes, reserve left-back Kostas Tsimikas — signed in the summertime from Olympiakos — is able to function back-up if referred to as upon.

MIDFIELDERS

What is the harm?

Membership captain Henderson pulled out of the newest England squad after being withdrawn at half-time through the Nations League sport towards Belgium on Sunday after feeling “a little bit of tightness” in his leg.

How lengthy will they be out?

Henderson is now a substantial doubt for Liverpool’s sport towards Leicester, although the membership shall be assessing him all week within the run-up.

Who can change him?

Georginio Wijnaldum will possible run the Reds’ central midfield towards the Foxes with Naby Keita alongside him and maybe the possibility for 19-year-old teen Curtis Jones to graduate from the bench.

What is the harm?

Midfield maestro Thiago has additionally been dominated out for the reason that derby towards Everton final month after struggling a knee harm from a lunging problem by Richarlison that earned the Brazilian a purple card.

How lengthy will they be out?

The Spanish string-puller has been seen again in coaching in latest weeks with Liverpool optimistic he shall be again in motion sooner fairly than later. Klopp has confirmed that Thiago is “getting nearer” to a return, but it surely stays to be seen whether or not the 29-year-old is match sufficient to participate towards Leicester.

Who can change him?

Whereas there may be no one fairly of Thiago’s ilk within the Reds’ squad, it can fall to Wijnaldum and Keita to pair up in midfield collectively. Who is aware of, possibly Xherdan Shaqiri may even get a look-in?

What is the harm?

Oxlade-Chamberlain has suffered terribly with accidents throughout his profession and the 27-year-old is within the midst of one other prolonged layoff after struggling one other knee downside throughout preseason coaching.

How lengthy will they be out?

Fortunately, it appears like The Ox is on the mend with a latest Instagram replace boosting hopes that he’s getting near health after three months on the sidelines.

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FORWARDS

What is the harm?

Not an harm, as such, however Salah is quarantined at his resort in Egypt after testing constructive for coronavirus final Friday forward of his county’s Africa Cup of Nations fixture towards Togo, per week after attending his brother’s marriage ceremony in Cairo.

How lengthy will they be out?

Salah’s signs have been mentioned to be “delicate” and it was reported that if he might return a unfavorable check on Wednesday of this week, he’d be allowed to return to Liverpool — although he would then have to start a 10-day interval of self-isolation. Sadly, the ahead examined constructive as soon as once more and due to this fact he should stay in El-Gouna, positively ruling him out of the Reds’ upcoming fixtures.

Who can change him?

It appears possible that Klopp will go for a entrance three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota for the go to of Leicester to Anfield. In any case, he fielded all 4 of them fromt he begin towards Manchester Metropolis in Liverpool’s final sport earlier than the worldwide break.