Liverpool's injury issues easing with Premier League title race coming to a head
Jurgen Klopp could get several top players back from injury after international break
The international break has become the bane to many football fans’ existence. However, the March international break could be the best thing for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
While fans will descend on Anfield for the Legends Match on Saturday, March 23, Liverpool’s first-team players will get some much needed rest ahead of the Premier League title run-in.
The break will provide further recuperation time for several Liverpool players, including Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, and Ibrahima Konate. All three players are set to return to the squad after the international break, giving the team a major boost.
Sunday’s FA Cup quarterfinal match will come too soon for the trio, but Klopp will have Ryan Gravenberch available for selection. The Dutch midfielder hasn’t played since suffering an ankle ligament injury in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea. Gravenberch had played well in the final until suffering the injury.
Liverpool teen sensation Bobby Clark is also nursing an injury. However, the knock Clark suffered against Sparta Prague in the Europa League last-16 second leg isn’t serious.
According to the latest information available, Klopp has seven players on the injury list, including: Joel Matip, Alisson Becker, Stefan Bajcetic, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jota, Jones, Konate, and Thiago.
Alexander-Arnold is also likely to return to the first-team following the international break, further adding to the quality available to Klopp.
It is believed that Liverpool have the easiest run-in of the three teams (Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool) fighting for the Premier League title. Liverpool’s 10 remaining matches will be against:
Everton (A)
Brighton (H)
Sheffield United (H)
Manchester United (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Fulham (A)
West Ham (A)
Tottenham (H)
Aston Villa (A)
Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
There is also the club’s Europa League tie against Atalanta in tournament’s quarterfinals.
Injury Analysis
Liverpool’s injury issues will get better following the international break. The team has continued to win matches, dealing with the mountain of injury issues. While plenty of Liverpool fans have claimed the medical staff has let the club down with the team’s injury record this season, the issues are down to the amount of football players are currently playing for club and country.
Bajcetic’s injury issues this season have been put down to growing pains and playing too much football as a young player. Matip’s ACL injury occurred when he stepped onto the AstroTurf against Fulham at Anfield after clearing a ball. Alexander-Arnold’s knee injury came as a result of a tear in the lateral ligament of the knee.
Salah’s recent hamstring injury didn’t occur on Liverpool’s watch. Rather it happened while playing at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Klopp is getting key players fit for the final 10 matches of the Premier League season. It could be the boost Liverpool need. It won’t be an easy 10 matches, and the Reds will likely need to be perfect over the course of those games to ensure they lift a second title under Klopp.