Evening Standard
·17 October 2024
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·17 October 2024
Reds to welcome back clutch of first-team players
Liverpool are set to welcome back a number of players as they prepare to face Chelsea as the Premier League returns after the international break.
The Reds saw both goalkeeper Alisson and midfielder Alexis Mac Allister forced off during their 1-0 win at Crystal Palace earlier this month.
Meanwhile, doubts surround the availability of Federico Chiesa, Caoimhin Kelleher, Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones but Harvey Elliot remains sidelined.
Here is the latest Liverpool injury news...
Alisson’s injury absence is a major blow for Liverpool
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Alisson is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering another hamstring injury during the win over Palace.
The goalkeeper withdrew from international duty with Brazil, with Slot saying: “What we do know is that if a player walks off like he did, that normally means that he is not in the Brazil squad, and I don't expect him to be in the team in the first game we play after [the international break].
“We have to wait and see, but it is going to take a few weeks, I assume, for him to be back. I think it is [his hamstring].”
The Brazilian underwent a scan earlier in the international break and is expected to be out for six weeks.
Potential return date: Sunday 24 November vs Southampton
Mac Allister was taken off at half-time of Liverpool’s win at Selhurst Park after picking up a groin injury.
Reds boss Arne Slot questioned whether Mac Allister would be able to join up with the Argentina squad after the game ahead of their World Cup qualifiers with Venezuela and Bolivia.
Mac Allister did link up with Lionel Scaloni’s men and although he missed the game with Venezuela the midfielder returned to the starting line-up for their 6-0 win over Bolivia on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old came off in the 66th minute but should be available for Liverpool’s game with Chelsea.
Potential return date: Sunday 20 October vs Chelsea
Alexis Mac Allister returned to action in Argentina’s 6-0 win over Bolivia
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Chiesa missed Liverpool’s last two games with an unspecified injury and didn’t head off on international duty with Italy.
The 26-year-old has struggled for fitness since becoming Arne Slot’s summer signing at the end of August.
Before their 2-0 win over Bologna earlier this month, Slot said: “Federico trained with us yesterday and came in today with some problems, and I'm not expecting him to be in the team tomorrow.
“I'm not expecting him to be out for a very long period of time.”
Potential return date: Sunday 20 October vs Chelsea
Kelleher did not make the Liverpool squad for their trip to Palace due to illness, which saw third-choice keeper Vitezslav Jaros make his club debut as a late replacement for Alisson.
Kelleher recovered in time to help the Republic of Ireland to a 2-1 Nations League over Finland, but made a glaring error in their 2-0 defeat to Greece.
The 25-year-old is set for a key role for Liverpool in the coming weeks with Alisson sidelined.
Potential return date: Sunday 20 October vs Chelsea
Caoimhin Kelleher made a mistake in Ireland’s 2-0 defeat to Greece
REUTERS
Endo hasn’t featured much under Slot so far this season, but played the entirety of Japan’s 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
He then gave club manager cause for concern after missing Japan’s 1-1 draw with Australia through illness.
Potential return date: Sunday 20 October vs Chelsea
Jones started Liverpool’s win over Palace and was then given a late call-up to England after injuries to Lee Carsley’s initial squad.
The midfielder was then forced to leave the camp for the birth of his daughter and has since returned to training at the Reds’ AXA Training Centre.
Potential return date: Sunday 20 October vs Chelsea
Curtis Jones left the England camp ahead of the trip to Finland
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Elliot has returned to the training pitch after suffering a foot fracture whilst playing for the England Under-21s last month.
The midfielder is still not yet ready to train with the rest of the squad and won’t be rushed back into action
"Harvey is of course a big disappointment for him but also for us," Slot said last month."Okay, he didn’t play that much in the first three games but he played a lot in pre-season and showed himself really well.
“If he had stayed fit he would have had a lot of playing time in the upcoming fixtures, but now it gives a chance to someone else.
"It's first and foremost a blow for himself but for also for us, availability is important in the stage of the season when we play seven games in 22 days. He will work as hard as always to come back in the best possible way."
Potential return date: Saturday 9 November vs Aston Villa
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