A staggering eleven players could potentially be unavailable for Liverpool as they gear up for their highly anticipated match against Manchester City, with crucial injury updates just around the corner.
Liverpool is set to take the field on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Manchester City, the team currently sitting in second place in the Premier League standings. As the match approaches, the Reds are still in the dark about which of their squad members will be fit to participate in this pivotal encounter.
The most pressing concern revolves around defender Joe Gomez. He has been sidelined for the last two matches due to a hip injury sustained in an unfortunate collision with his own goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, during the recent 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth. Manager Arne Slot remains optimistic that Gomez might make a comeback, potentially providing a much-needed option at right-back.
This situation is particularly urgent given that both Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are also unavailable. Bradley is out for the season following knee surgery, while Frimpong is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks due to a groin injury, which prevented him from participating in the match against Newcastle United last weekend.
In addition to these injuries, Alexander Isak is set to miss several months as he recuperates from surgery on an ankle issue that included a fractured fibula, an injury he sustained during a match against Tottenham Hotspur when he scored Liverpool's opening goal before Christmas. Furthermore, teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni is ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing ACL surgery back in September. Other young talents like Jayden Danns, Stefan Bajectic, and Wellity Lucky are also absent from the lineup.
On the other side of the pitch, Manchester City is facing their own injury woes. The team has been hit hard with injuries to key centre-backs Josko Gvardiol (shin) and John Stones (thigh), leading them to make a strategic move in the transfer market to acquire Marc Guehi. However, there is some good news for City as Ruben Dias has returned to training this week.
Additionally, forwards Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku are currently doubts for the match, while Mateo Kovacic and Savio are expected to miss out. City is also preparing to play against Newcastle United in the League Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday, adding another layer of complexity to their already strained squad.
