Liverpool has just four injury concerns heading into Tuesday’s enticing Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain, a fortunate position to be in given the number of absentees across the league.
However, Arne Slot was keen to state on Friday that luck has played no part in Liverpool’s injury track record this season. “That we don’t have many injuries, I don’t see that as luck. I see it as, first of all, top professionals – our players do everything to try to stay fit – and, second of all, great facilities and a great staff,” he said.
The number of absentees could even be reduced to three if Cody Gakpo can return in time for the midweek clash against PSG at Anfield. Here’s the latest on all of the club’s unavailable players at present.
Cody Gakpo
The Dutch winger may be available on Tuesday with Slot confirming after Saturday’s win over Southampton that he does not think his injury is serious. Asked post-match if Gakpo was close to being involved against the Saints, Slot replied: “No, otherwise I would have taken him because this was the most important game of the week, like I told you – and the first of three finals. So, if he would have been able then I would have definitely had him on the bench, but unfortunately he wasn’t.”
Gakpo first sustained the ankle issue in the Merseyside derby on 12 February. He missed the two subsequent matches but came back off the bench in the wins over Manchester City and Newcastle before suffering a relapse of the injury in training. That forced the former PSV Eindhoven attacker to miss the PSG first leg and the Southampton game, although before the latter Slot said Gakpo was a “close call.”
Possible return date: 11 March
Conor Bradley
Hasn’t featured since the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on 19 February when he was forced off with a muscle injury. Slot said last Tuesday that Bradley would be out for a “few weeks” and there has been no update since. A return after the international break seems likely, although there’s a slim chance he could be back in time for the Carabao Cup final next Sunday.
Possible return date: 2 April
Joe Gomez
Injuries have blighted what looked like a very positive campaign in late December. But he sustained a hamstring problem in the final match of 2024 and then a recurrence of the injury forced him off in the disastrous FA Cup trip to Plymouth Argyle. Gomez had to undergo an operation to fix the problem and Slot said the player would be back before the end of the season but hasn’t given any further updates since.
Possible return date: May
Tyler Morton
Underwent surgery on a shoulder problem last month and is not expected back for another few months. With uncertainty surrounding his future, there’s every chance the midfielder has played his final game for Liverpool.