Squad Injury Updates: What We Know

All the squad injury updates in one place ahead of West Ham at
Anfield

Virgil Van Dijk has undergone “successful” surgery for his knee
ligament injury, and will begin to focus on his rehabilitation.
This is the best possible news, as minor complications or changing
situations can be discovered during surgery, but no timeline has
been communicated about the Dutchman’s return to the side. The
manager, about the impact of Van Dijk’s near spotless injury
history prior to Pickford’s lunge, was positive.

“He’s a quick healer and he’s a pain-coper, so that’s all clear.
All these things, yes, they help.”

Rhys Williams, Neco Williams, Jake Cain and Nat Phillips have
been seen continuing to train with the first team.

Photo
by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Fabinho is not in the squad for the weekend, though Jürgen Klopp
has to his issue as a “little injury.” Though not
much is known about the Brazilian’s niggle, it’s possible that
Klopp is being cautious given the fixture congestion, and Reds fans
should not fear a long-term absence.

Captain Jordan Henderson, who was subbed at halftime in Denmark,
“ have a fitness problem.” Instead, the shift in personnel
was planned as a means to manage minutes, a move Klopp has “responsible.” (Que a collective sigh of
relief.)

The manager has that Naby Keïta and Thiago Alcântara have
been making “good progress,” though fans can expect caution despite
the players being back in training. Despite the loss of Fabinho and
Van Dijk, the manager is insistent players will not be “rushed”
back into action, which might lead to further injury.

“If somebody is in training again that doesn’t mean you can use
them immediately. Sometimes we have to, but as much as we can avoid
it we should try to do that.”

While gaps in personnel might be stressful for fans, a cautious
approach to a challenging schedule is something that should be
lauded. Klopp continues to meet with medical staff on a daily basis
to ensure he is being responsible with his players — and the
manager’s tendency to avoid “rushing” players back, allowing the
medical team to do their jobs to the best of their ability, will
certainly pay off in the long run. What fans and Klopp alike
don’t want to see is a newly returned player heading off
injured.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kostas Tsimikas
remain sidelined with injury, though Oxlade-Chamberlain might
return to action next month. No updates have been provided about
their fitness at present, and Joël Matip, too, remains unlikely to
feature at the weekend with a muscle injury.