Evening Standard
·2 May 2024
Evening Standard
·2 May 2024
Spurs head to Anfield on Sunday with the Reds in a relatively good position fitness-wise, following months of several absentees.
Conor Bradley and Diogo Jota are nearing their returns while Stefan Bajcetic has continued his comeback with the Under-21s last week.
Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara are the main players still some way from a return. Jurgen Klopp will update fans on his squad’s status on Friday.
Liverpool ruled Jota out for two weeks when he picked up a knock in the win at Fulham on April 21.
“Both [Jota and Bradley] not ready,” Klopp said before the West Ham trip last weekend. “Progressing well, [but] not ready and nobody told me yet they will start training in the next few days. I think it will take time, a little bit.”
Therefore, it is hoped the Portuguese forward will be back in the squad for the Tottenham match.
Potential return date: Sunday, May 5 vs Tottenham
Return: Diogo Jota’s comeback from a knee injury has been hampered by a knock sustained against Fulham
Action Images via Reuters
A long season of injury issues, most of which were prompted by growing pains, has been tough to take for promising young midfielder Bajcetic.
Back on the bench for the West Ham game, he played his third Under-21s match a day later as he got an hour under his belt.
Liverpool are taking it slowly with his return to first-team action but he should make the squad for this weekend’s game.
Potential return date: Sunday, May 5 vs Tottenham
An ankle injury has kept right-back Bradley sidelined for almost three weeks.
But, like Jota, Klopp has suggested the youngster is in contention for an imminent return to the squad.
Potential return date: Sunday, May 5 vs Tottenham
Matip has likely played his last game in Liverpool colours after rupturing his ACL in December. Klopp confirmed that he won’t play again this season and his contract is up in the summer.
Potential return date: Summer 2024
Thiago has only played five minutes of football for Liverpool this season. He missed the first half of the season with a hip injury, before making his return as a substitute against Arsenal on February 4. He suffered a muscle injury in his brief cameo, which has ruled him out since.
When asked in February, Klopp was unsure when he’d be fit.
“There's no timescale,” Klopp said. “I don't know, to be honest. It's a couple of things [that] he has to do now from a medical point of view and then I don't know if that will then mean that he can play again [this season].
"That's not a short-term thing, that's why I'm not really in the subject. It's not that he might be in training in two weeks or stuff like this, so that's why I'm not 100 per cent in it. I cannot say more about it, to be honest."
Thiago’s contract also expires in the summer, and he might not play another game for Liverpool after another injury-hit season.
Potential return date: Summer 2024
After surgery on his knee over the winter, Doak is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign.
Potential return date: Summer 2024
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