This Sunday, one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the Premier League season will be played, however, Liverpool’s preparations have been hindered due to an increasing number of injuries.
The Reds are set to face Manchester City on Sunday, March 10th, with the absence of several crucial players. This poses a considerable challenge for Jurgen Klopp’s team as they strive to secure a vital win against their title rivals.
It's 1st v 2nd this Sunday 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/HeMNmZxFmq
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 4, 2024
Key Players Missing For Liverpool
Liverpool is facing a significant injury crisis, with a total of nine players set to miss the upcoming clash against Man City. The list of the sidelined players and their anticipated return dates are as follows:
Trent Alexander-Arnold – April
The 25-year-old has had an amazing season for Liverpool up until the injury, with 2 goals and 10 assists in all competitions. He was the reason his side earned a point at the Etihad, scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw. He will no doubt be a huge miss. Despite Conor Bradley’s fine form, facing Pep Guardiola’s Man City will be a different kind of challenge he’s not yet had.
Ryan Gravenberch – April
Following a strong tackle by Moises Caicedo during the Carabao Cup final that forced him to leave Wembley on a stretcher, the Dutchman is officially ruled out for Liverpool this month.
Alisson Becker – April
After Klopp came out and said his hamstring injury is “rather serious,” Alisson won’t be fit to play for the Reds on Sunday.
Curtis Jones – April
Another midfield alternative is unavailable until April, adding to Klopp’s constraints in the central midfield position. The 23-year-old has delivered exceptional performances throughout the season and will be a significant absence at Anfield on Sunday.
Diogo Jota & Stefan Bajcetic – Unknown
The Portuguese international will be out for “months,” according to his manager, after injuring his left knee during the 4-1 win over Brentford last month.
As for Bajcetic, the 19-year-old suffered an adductor injury at the start of the season, and it was unclear if it was muscular or bone-related. Klopp has since given an update, stating that he is “pain-free.” However, there is no time scale on a return.
Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, & Ben Doak – Ruled out for the season
Matip was forced off in the second half of Liverpool’s win over Fulham at the start of the season, and scans confirmed that he had sustained an ACL injury. The club has not put a timeframe on his return, however, he will definitely miss the rest of the campaign.
Thiago sustained a muscle injury as he made his first appearance of 2023–24 as a substitute in the defeat at Arsenal on February 4. Klopp said, “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.”
Doak suffered a knee injury while playing for the U21s team last December. The young forward has looked very promising in his stints for the first team, but it looks as though he will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Five years since Man City 2-1 Liverpool in one the highest-quality games the league has seen.
It was Liverpool’s only loss of the season and Man City won 14 straight to close out the title with 98 points.
A title decider…in January 🤯
(via @ManCity) pic.twitter.com/J7aE80CHZc
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 3, 2024
How will this impact Liverpool?
Alisson Becker’s absence presents a tough challenge, even with Kelleher as a reliable backup. The Reds will likely encounter a barrage of attacks, and Jurgen Klopp will hope his team can successfully weather these challenges without incurring substantial setbacks.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip sidelined, Liverpool’s defensive strength is under scrutiny. Fortunately, Ibrahima Konate has been performing exceptionally well, forming a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk.
The midfield will face challenges with the absence of Thiago Alcantara, Ryan Gravenberch, and Curtis Jones. Therefore, the focus will be on the remaining midfielders Klopp has left to control the game and stop City’s rhythm.
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