Liverpool’s Injury List: Van Dijk In Doubt, Jota Out Plus Expected Return Dates

The Reds’ injury problems have significantly improved in recent weeks, but some players probably won’t suit up for the team ever again.

The Reds have been beset by numerous injuries in recent weeks and months, which is a high price to pay for contending on four fronts for such a long time this season. In the breathtaking Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp really had to trust his Academy graduates.

Despite missing so many regular squad members and players, the kids of course came through big time, helping the Reds win a historic 1-0 at Wembley. However, injuries have since taken their toll, and weariness has become a significant problem as the season comes to an end.

Following a shocking FA Cup quarterfinal loss to Manchester United, Liverpool suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Atalanta to exit the Europa League. Their attempt to win the Premier League crown was then dashed by dreadful losses, including a stalemate at West Ham and losses at home to Crystal Palace and Everton.

Which players are so still injured? Who knows, maybe before the season ends? And who might never again play for the team? THEEAGLE scrolls through the list of injuries for Liverpool below.

Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk played the full ninety minutes in the disappointing stalemate between West Ham and London Stadium; nevertheless, he missed most of the week’s training due to a slight knock.

Van Dijk might start for the squad against Spurs on Sunday, though, as Klopp has now disclosed that the Dutch defender could “probably” participate in certain “parts of team training” on Friday.

Diogo Jota

The loss of Jota so soon after his eagerly anticipated return to play may have ended Liverpool’s hopes of winning the league, given their incapacity to take chances. After scoring in the 3-1 victory over Fulham, the Portuguese player sustained a slight injury that sidelined him for two weeks.

“I cannot really say a lot about it, to be honest,” Klopp said ahead of the Merseyside derby. “Before a game where he didn’t start, he got a knock – normal challenge, then felt a little bit at the hip. That was then fine because we didn’t start him, brought him on, that was alright.

“Then he started the last game (against Fulham), was obviously OK and then with the finish… it’s a small one but we are late in the season, so obviously now it’s not a great moment for each injury. But it’s not a big one. Actually, it’s pretty much nothing but enough to not be available.”

Indeed, Jota won’t feature against Tottenham but should return against Aston Villa on May 13.

Stefan Bajcetic

Prior to an adductor issue ending his season, Bajcetic was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal 2022–23 campaign. The young Spanish player has only made two appearances this season, both of which have come at right-back. It took him far longer than anticipated to return to full health, and even then, he was hampered by an ailment linked to growing pains.

Bajcetic, who made his eagerly anticipated comeback to action on April 12 by playing 30 minutes in an Under-21s match against Manchester United, may still make an appearance for the first team before the season is out.

Thiago Alcantara

The Spanish midfielder’s year has been nothing short of a nightmare. On February 4, he had his first professional appearance since April 2023 in the Premier League loss at Arsenal, but a muscular issue sidelined him right away. This was his first significant hip injury to heal.

The fact that Thiago’s contract expires this summer and Klopp is unsure if the 32-year-old will play again this season is extremely alarming.

“There’s no timescale,” Klopp admitted in March. “There are a couple of things [that] he has to do now from a medical point of view and I don’t know if that will then mean that he can play again [this season]. It’s not a short-term thing. It’s not that he might be in training in two weeks or stuff like this, so that’s why I’m not 100 per cent. I cannot say more about it, to be honest.”

Conor Bradley

Bradley was substituted out of the shocking Anfield defeat to Crystal Palace just after the half. Klopp gave an explanation last week, saying, “[He] overstretched the ligaments, not serious-serious but serious enough that he’s not [able to play].”

“I think Ryan Gravenberch had a similar thing,” the manager added, alluding to the Dutchman’s injury in the Carabao Cup final. “So, first week of May, [Bradley] should be back in training.”

Klopp was spot on, with the Northern Irishman in contention to make the bench for this weekend’s game against Spurs.

Joel Matip

Another player whose career at Liverpool is coming to an end is the Cameroonian, whose contract expires this summer and who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in December, most likely marking the end of his time with the team.

The bright side is that, despite missing just three months of training, he’s already back to full speed.

“I think since he got injured this is the best moment because it was very painful in the beginning, very painful for him, [but] he got through that and now he is pain-free,” Klopp revealed earlier this month. “But it takes time [to return to the field of play], so I don’t think the season is long enough for him.”

Klopp has argued that Matip deserves a new deal – but the outgoing manager added “it’s not my decision. I cannot sign the papers.” Whatever happens, Matip will forever be regarded as a cult hero at Anfield and the free transfer from Schalke in 2016 will definitely go down as one of Klopp’s best-ever signings.

Ben Doak

The talented Scottish winger made two starts in September, one against LASK and one against Leicester, after making an impression during preseason and playing off the bench in the opening-weekend tie at Chelsea. Although Klopp stated that it “cost him a bit of rhythm” when he had a muscular injury while playing for Scotland Under-21s on international duty, he went on to make more first-team outings against Union SG and Toulouse.

However, Doak then suffered a serious knee injury while representing the Reds’ Under-21s that means he might not play again this season. “He is young, he is a fit guy, he is a positive guy so, for sure, he will come back stronger,” assistant coach Pep Lijnders told reporters. “He can take his time because we will wait for him.”