Liverpool without seven players for Arsenal clash with Gravenberch boost and Mac Allister update

Latest Liverpool injury news ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s side welcoming Arsenal to Anfield in Premier League action this weekend

Latest Liverpool injury news ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s side welcoming Arsenal to Anfield in Premier League action this weekend

Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on December 20, 2023 in Liverpool, England.

Jurgen Klopp has given an injury update on Alexis Mac Allister ahead of Liverpool vs Arsenal

Jurgen Klopp has given an update on four injured Liverpool stars ahead of this weekend’s Premier League visit of Arsenal. The Reds have been hit by a number of fitness blows in recent months with Joel Matip and Alexis Mac Allister both picking up injuries during the 2-0 win against Sheffield United.

As a result, the duo joined the likes of Diogo Jota and Andy Robertson on the injury list, however Matip is expected to be out for far longer than Mac Allister. “It’s an ACL, ruptured,” Klopp revealed in a press conference. “That’s unfortunately what I expected from the first second. It looked like that, very unfortunate, but that’s it.”

While Matip’s injury is muscular, Mac Allister picked up a significant impact blow with a deep cut emerging his right leg after an intense clash. 10 days earlier, Diogo Jota and Alisson also picked up injuries against Manchester City, and although the latter has returned, the clash against Arsenal comes too soon for both Jota and Mac Allister but Ryan Gravenberch is back in contention.

“He’s [Gravenberch] back. Macca and Diogo getting closer but not ready for tomorrow,” Klopp revealed on Friday. Ben Doak, Steven Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara and Robertson are the long-term absentees with the latter suffering a serious shoulder injury in November while on international duty for Scotland.

“Robbo had surgery,” Klopp confirmed ahead of a Europa League clash against Toulouse. “All went well, as good as it could be, so the recovery starts after he wakes up. I think it happened this morning. That’s it. We don’t know how long it will take or whatever, but the first step is done, that’s good.”

With nearly a month having passed since the defender went under the knife, Klopp was asked for an update on his progress ahead of the Arsenal clash. “He is doing well. We need to be patient. He can’t do all the physical work yet. It’s a short time until he’s back. We hope it’s January but we don’t know,” he revealed.

An exact return date for Thiago is also unknown with the Spain international yet to feature this season due to a plaguing issue. “It’s an ongoing thing,” he said at the beginning of December. “We cannot put any kind of pressure there as well, but we expect him to be back probably start of the New Year. It’s now already November, that would mean another four weeks, I would say that’s probably a realistic thing to try.

“We can’t wait, to be honest, to have him back. The player is just exceptional. I understand that you ask, but we can’t now have a week-by-week update, because that will not chang

e a lot in this moment.”