Liverpool has already seen the departure of Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo due to international tournaments. Despite a challenging first half, the team secured a 2-0 victory against Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round at the Emirates Stadium, maintaining their lead in the Premier League and progressing to the Europa League last 16. However, January poses difficulties with the absence of Salah and Endo.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds’ captain, missed the Arsenal game due to illness, but Jurgen Klopp expressed hope for his participation in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham on Wednesday. Dominik Szoboszlai, who suffered a hamstring problem during the win over Newcastle on New Year’s Day, will miss the Fulham game, with a potential return date set for Sunday, January 21, against Bournemouth.
Andy Robertson, recovering from shoulder surgery in October, is not expected to return until the end of January or the beginning of February, as he continues to work on regaining range in his shoulder. Kostas Tsimikas, Robertson’s understudy, broke his collarbone during the draw with Arsenal, and his return date remains unknown.
Thiago Alcantara, recovering from hip surgery over the summer, is anticipated to join team training in January. Klopp emphasized the need for caution to avoid rushing his return, considering the long-term nature of his hip-related issue.
“There were certainly days when he could have trained easily, but the focus is on ensuring his long-term recovery, and that’s our current priority.”
Stefan Bajcetic, who showed promise in the previous season, has struggled to replicate his breakthrough campaign this time. The midfielder has made only two appearances this season, and similar to Thiago, Klopp has confirmed the club is taking a cautious approach to his return.
“It’s a growing issue, not increasing, but related to his age and growth. So, we need to proceed with caution. He could train fully today and maybe tomorrow as well, but then not for five weeks. It’s a medical decision, not made by the player or me. It’s just the necessary approach when such situations arise. Unfortunately, it’s frustrating for the player.”
Joel Matip, who underwent surgery for a severe knee injury last month, is unlikely to play again this season, with a potential return date set for the summer of 2024.