Evening Standard
·16 de diciembre de 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·16 de diciembre de 2024
Reds facing defensive shortage ahead of another busy week
Liverpool could be without a number of key defenders as the festive fixture schedule picks up.
Arne Slot’s side dropped points in the Premier League title race for only the fourth time this season on Saturday after a thrilling 2-2 draw with Fulham at Anfield.
While the Reds remain control of the race given they also boast a game in hand over the chasing Chelsea, Arsenal and (arguably) Manchester City, Slot will be keen to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.
Liverpool travel down to Southampton on Wednesday in a Carabao Cup quarter-final before making the journey to Tottenham on Sunday.
Slot will need his full squad available for another busy week and has not been helped by a shortage in defensive areas.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest Liverpool injuries….
Andy Robertson is set to serve a suspension anyway following a red card shown to him during the Fulham game.
Still, Slot believes the fact the Scotland international may have been injured by a challenge from Issa Diop in the opening exchanges could have played a part in his dismissal.
“I think Robbo might have been a bit too injured to keep going because normally he's faster than that. It says a lot about his character that he wants to keep on going but it results in a red card,” Slot said.
Potential return date: Unknown
Boost: Kostas Tsimikas is stepping up his return from injury for Liverpool
Getty Images
Fellow left-back Kostas Tsimikas hasn’t played since November due to an ankle injury.
Speaking before the Fulham game, however, Slot revealed the Greek international was stepping up his recovery.
“He has made the first positive step,” he said. “But when players are back on the grass, still [for] playing time sometimes there is a little bit of time in between that.
“But I cannot say exactly how long because not every player reacts in the same way. Some players are earlier back with the same injury and some players need a little bit more time.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Ibrahima Konate suffered an injury during the 2-0 over Real Madrid in the Champions League last month and Slot admits he cannot put on a timeline on the Frenchman’s return.
“I have no clue, they [Konate and Conor Bradley] are not on the pitch yet,” he said. “Well, of course, I have a clue, but it is not that there is a game in our heads that we want them back for, no.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Like Konate, Bradley sustained an injury during the win over Madrid.
The hamstring injury is likely to rule the Northern Ireland for the next few weeks.
“They [Bradley and Konate] will both be out for a few weeks,” confirmed the Reds boss earlier this month.
“I have said many times before it's always difficult to judge how many exactly because you can think in the beginning it'll be like this, and then the end stage of an injury process can always differ a bit.”
Potential return date: Unknown