It has been an ongoing narrative during the Reds’ torrid start to the season, with injuries plaguing every position on the pitch. This is no different ahead of the final games before the international break – of which they are now one short after the meeting with Wolves was postponed. Here’s the latest on nine first-team injuries and when they’re expected to return.
Kevin Kelleher
Damage: GroinOutside: July 4thExpected return: Unknown Kelleher has been sidelined since the first day of pre-season having been diagnosed with a groin problem which, Klopp insists, was overlooked while on duty with the Republic of Ireland. The 23-year-old looked to be edging closer to a return at the end of August, with the manager revealing it was “normal goalkeeper training”, but he was ruled out for the trip to Napoli. It remains to be seen when Kelleher will return to the fold.
Ibrahima Konate
Damage: KneeOutside: July 31Expected return: End of September The Frenchman picked up a knee injury in the 3-0 friendly defeat by Strasbourg at the end of pre-season and is yet to return to full training. However, earlier this month, Klopp explained that Konate was set to return “in and around the international break”, suggesting he could make the squad for the meeting with Brighton on October 1.
Calvin Ramsey
Damage: BackOutside: July 4thExpected return: Unknown Like Kelleher, summer signing Ramsay has not been involved in training since the very first day of pre-season, with Klopp describing his problem as “something to do with age and development”. Klopp added, however, that the right-back is “really getting closer”, and there is a chance he could join full training before the end of September.
Jordan Henderson
Damage: HamstringOutside: August 31Expected return: End of September The injury that forced Liverpool into late action in the transfer market, Henderson picked up a hamstring problem in the 2-1 win over Newcastle, leading to Arthur’s loan signing. It was later reported that the captain would face around three weeks out, with Klopp expecting him to return after the international break. Pencil in Brighton on October 1 as a possible return for Henderson.
Naby Keita
Damage: ThighOutside: August 21Expected return: End of September The situation around Keita is strange. While the timing of the No.8’s injury, amid reports he is unhappy with his position at the club, is suspect, Klopp insisted it is for real and would keep him out “for a while”. But despite leading Liverpool to omit Keita from their Champions League squad for the group stage – hinting he would be out until at least November – he has since been called up by Guinea for the September international break. “His condition is improving and he is even ahead of schedule,” claimed manager Kaba Diawara after naming his squad.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Damage: HamstringOutside: July 15Expected return: October at the earliest A long-term absentee, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been sidelined since suffering a serious hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in pre-season. “It’s a hamstring,” Klopp explained soon after. “We all hate that word, we hate injury, but it happens from time to time and now Ox was it.” Reports have since claimed that the earliest the Liverpool No.15 could return is October, but it is possible he will be out for even longer than that, with Klopp’s latest update claiming he will be out “for a while”.
Curtis Jones
Damage: CalfOutside: Early SeptemberExpected return: Unknown Having returned to the Liverpool team for the 2-1 win over Newcastle, Jones then suffered another setback which ruled him out against Everton and Napoli. “It’s not as bad as the first time,” Klopp said this week, “but it’s bad enough that I’m not involved in team training again, which isn’t very helpful.”
Fabio Carvalho
Damage: Dead legOutside: September 3Expected return: Back against Ajax Carvalho is one of the few Liverpool players to benefit from the postponement of the clash with Wolves, with the Portuguese given extra time to recover from the dead leg. There had been hopes the 20-year-old would return to face Wolves at Anfield, but he now looks almost certain to feature again when they visit Ajax on September 13.
Gordon Pedestal
Damage: BasinOutside: FebruaryExpected return: Unknown For a long time, Gordon’s condition was a mystery, with the teenager not having fought since February. But it has been revealed that he is currently suffering from a pelvic injury, the latest in a string of fitness problems since breaking through to first-team level. No return date has been set for Gordon at this stage, with Liverpool being “careful” with his recovery, but the hope is that he will be able to train again in the near future.
