Liverpool’s Injured “Getting Closer” but None Will Be Ready for Ajax

The good news is that a number of Liverpool’s injured players are getting close to making their returns to action. The bad news is that it appears none will be ready for any kind of a role against Ajax on Tuesday.

As a result, manager Jürgen Klopp will have some severe limitations when it comes to selecting his defence and midfield in the Champions League—but by the weekend, just maybe, a few injured players could be back.

“They are all getting closer,” was the manager’s reply when asked about Naby Keïta, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Thiago Alcantara. “Not for tomorrow I don’t think, but we will have to check on Naby.

“It will not be that long any more with Trent. Thiago trained from time to time but not in the moment. We realise it was a really big impact on the knee and he has to take a few more steps, so it will take a few weeks.”

There was no update on Xherdan Shaqiri or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at his pre-match press conference today, but in both cases the hope remains that a return will be possible within the next week or two.

In the meantime, though, it will leave the Reds with just three fit senior midfielders—with Jordan Henderson only just returning from injury himself—to add to their ongoing injury crisis at centre half.