Liverpool returned to domestic duties with a Carabao Cup clash against Manchester City on Thursday and have just four days to go until they are back in action once more.
The Reds have been cursed with injury issues all season and remained without six players in midweek. However, at least four of those will continue to miss out until the new year, meaning Jurgen Klopp can only hope that no further problems are picked up ahead of Monday’s Boxing Day clash with Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Here is all you need to know about the state of play at Anfield and the expected return dates for those out on the sidelines.
Curtis Jones
Youngster Curtis Jones has made just seven appearances in all competitions this season and is ruled out as he continues to recover from his latest injury setback.
The midfielder featured in six consecutive games for the Reds between October and November but was ruled out for the final two fixtures before the international break with a recurring shin issue and is not expected to feature again until next month.
Speaking on Wednesday, assistant manager Pep Ljinders said: “Curtis is one week away from team training.”
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Arthur Melo
Summer signing Arthur Melo has had a nightmare start to his Liverpool spell but the Brazilian midfielder is making good progress with his recovery from a thigh injury.
The on-loan Juventus man picked up the long-term issue during a training session back in October and has been ruled out ever since. However, he is expected to return to training at the end of this month and it is hoped that he will be available for selection by the end of January.
Diogo Jota
Reds forward Diogo Jota remains sidelined for the long-term but it is hoped that he will regain full fitness by February.
The Portuguese international suffered a serious calf injury against Manchester City in October and was subsequently ruled out of the World Cup. However, it has been confirmed that he remains on schedule with his recovery, meaning a return to first-team training can be expected next month.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ljinders said: “Diogo is inside the timeframe, we think. So it’s going well, he was there in Dubai - he was in all the meetings and video meetings. That was good.”
Luis Diaz
Arguably Liverpool’s biggest loss of the season, Luis Diaz remains in the treatment room with a serious knee injury following the 3-2 defeat by Arsenal in October and has been dealt with a further setback in his recovery.
The Colombian winger was part of the squad for the warm-weather training camp in Dubai earlier this month but was forced to leave early. It was soon revealed that he would be ruled out for an extended period of time, with a return date of no earlier than March expected.
Speaking on Wednesday, Ljinders said: “Luis is not available and that’s it. It's really sad it has happened, but he has the character to take the time to come back stronger.”
