Liverpool face injury crisis ahead of EFL Cup final, as Klopp provides update on Szoboszlai and Salah's return date

Liverpool face injury crisis ahead of EFL Cup final, as Klopp provides update on Szoboszlai and Salah's return date

Faruq Ibrahim 12:00 - 09.02.2024

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp provided an injury update on key players ahead of the EFL Cup final.

Liverpool's preparations for the upcoming EFL Cup final have hit a snag, with midfield maestro Dominik Szoboszlai's participation hanging in the balance due to a hamstring injury. 

Jurgen Klopp, the man steering the Liverpool ship, shared his concerns, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding Szoboszlai's recovery timeline. 

On a brighter note, Mohamed Salah, the Reds' talisman, seems to be on a promising path to recovery, potentially making it back in time for the Wembley showdown on February 25th.

Injury woes and comeback hopes

Szoboszlai's absence was felt during Liverpool's recent 3-1 stumble against Arsenal, and Klopp's latest update doesn't bode well for an immediate comeback. "Dom is currently running outside in the winter rain. He is not ready for tomorrow [Saturday] and then we have to see. It's pretty much the same injury he had before, so it's not good he's experienced it again.”

“We've been debating for days: will he be fit for Brentford [next Saturday], the final, or after the final? I don’t know,” Klopp remarked, shedding light on the Hungarian's predicament.”

Mo Salah and Dominic Szoboszlai in Liverpool training || Image credit: Imago
Mo Salah and Dominic Szoboszlai in Liverpool training || Image credit: Imago

Salah and Thiago in a race against time

Salah, sidelined since New Year’s Day with a hamstring injury picked up on international duty, is inching closer to a return. Klopp remains cautiously optimistic, stating, "He's moving in the right direction. 

We hope, but we don’t know, that he can join training next week, but we'll have to wait and see. He's going through all the necessary steps now, which is positive. Either next week or the following week.”

Thiago Alcantara, another key figure in Liverpool's setup, faces a fresh setback after a brief return against Arsenal, marking his first appearance in 10 months. Klopp's frustration was palpable as he discussed Thiago's muscle issue: 

“Thiago's situation isn't great. Everything looked fantastic in training, so you think, ‘Let him play a few minutes’. And then it's a muscle issue. We don’t know the extent yet, so we have to wait. It's really not good news for him, for us, for everyone.”

With the Burnley clash looming, Liverpool will also be without Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley, further depleting Klopp's options. 

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