After a short winter break, the English Premier League is now continuing for Liverpool FC. The “Reds” are leaders, but coach Jürgen Klopp is plagued by personnel problems.
The winter break in English football doesn’t actually exist. Although Liverpool FC last played in the Premier League on New Year’s Day, coach Jürgen Klopp’s team certainly couldn’t rest.
Premier League, 21st matchday arrow right
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the next injured
Because there were two cup games during the league break. In the FA Cup, the “Reds” had to play against Arsenal FC, and in the League Cup they played against Fulham FC.
Both games were won, but Klopp wasn’t completely happy. Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold injured his knee against Arsenal and will be out for several weeks.
He joins a long list of players that Klopp will have to do without in the game at AFC Bournemouth on Sunday (January 21, 2024) on the 21st matchday of the league (from 7:15 p.m. in the game summary in the Sportschau).
Long list of failures
Complaining on a high level – or so you might think. After all, Liverpool FC is the league leader. The Anfield Road team has been undefeated in 13 games. The last and only defeat so far came at the end of September at Tottenham Hotspur (1:2).
But in addition to Alexander-Arnold, the injured Andrew Robertson, Konstantinos Tsimikas and Joel Matip are also missing from the defense. Klopp has to do without Stefan Bajcetic and Dominik Szoboszlai in midfield. They are – you guessed it – injured. Thiago hasn’t been in the squad once this season due to a long-term injury. Wataru Endo is currently playing for Japan at the Asian Cup.
Salah beim Africa-Cup
The loss of top striker Mohamed Salah, who is with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, is particularly serious. With 14 goals, he is Liverpool’s best scorer and is tied with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at the top of the top scorer list. He could miss up to four league games depending on his team’s performance at the Africa Cup of Nations. “We have to deal with it and we will,” said Klopp combatively: “It’s not the first time that we have lost our goalscorer.”
But now Klopp himself has to worry about Salah when it comes to injuries. Because he injured his thigh at the Africa Cup. “We all know how rarely Mo has to leave the field. So there was definitely something there,” said Klopp. The 56-year-old said he had “no further information” about the severity of Salah’s injury: “I spoke to him yesterday evening. There are now examinations and then we will know more. The Egyptians will have an ultrasound and an MRI then we’ll know what it is and what their plans are.” Liverpool will then also decide to possibly send their own medical staff to Ivory Coast. Salah was substituted after the first half of the 2-2 draw against Ghana on Thursday.
All problems overcome – at least so far
In Bournemouth, which is a bit in the middle of nowhere in the table in twelfth place, the LFC is still the favorite. And in general: Thanks to the broad squad, the team has mastered all the problems so far.
But the neutral observer can still ask himself how long things will last for the “Reds”. Because the tightly staggered schedule is relentless, and Liverpool are still in four competitions. In addition to the Premier League, these include the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Europa League.
And in the league the closest rival is Manchester City. And the “Skyblues” are determined to knock Liverpool off the top of the table after the return of Kevin De Bruyne, who was injured for a long time.