Liverpool are battling with a host of Premier League clubs for a top four finish.
The Reds will be looking to secure qualification for next season’s Champions League by finishing in the top four of the table. Liverpool are currently seven points adrift of fourth spot in sixth place in the Premier League, but do have two games in hand.
Jurgen Klopp will be forced to deal with several injuries when Liverpool return from the international break. But they will not be alone, with their top four rivals also dealing with injury problems.
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Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Brighton are currently the three clubs who are closest to Liverpool in the table in the battle for the top four. The ECHO takes a look at their current injury situation as the race for European football begins to heat up.
Tottenham Hotspur injury news
Midfielder Yves Bissouma has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the start of February. Surgery was required and now the Mali international faces a spell on the sidelines as he recovers.
Fellow midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a serious knee injury in February, which has already ruled him out for the remainder of the season. The Uruguay international is not expected to return to action until around November.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has been sidelined with a knee injury since the start of February. He has since been replaced by Fraser Forster, and is not expected to return until the end of April at the earliest.
Forward Richarlison suffered an injury in Tottenham’s 3-3 draw with Southampton just before the international break. It has not yet been stated when he will be fit to return, but he was forced to withdraw from the Brazil squad earlier this week.
Ryan Sessegnon has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the start of February. It was initially expected that he would be sidelined for six weeks, meaning he could return after the international break.
Newcastle injury news
Miguel Almiron suffered a thigh injury shortly before the international break began and missed Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. He is expected to be sidelined for six weeks and return at the end of April.
Fellow forward Allan Saint-Maximin has been sidelined with a thigh injury since the middle of March. Manager Eddie Howe stated that he didn’t think the issue was serious, but no real timeframe has been placed on the forward’s return.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope suffered a knock after suffering from a minor injury in recent weeks. As a result, he was forced to withdraw from Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Anthony Gordon suffered an ankle injury shortly before the international break, and there is no solid timeframe on his return. The former Everton forward missed Newcastle’s win over Nottingham Forest on March 17.
Defender Emil Krafth suffered an ACL injury last August, which immediately ruled him out for the rest of the season.
Brighton injury news
Former Liverpool star Adam Lallana suffered a serious thigh injury at the start of February. He required surgery which ruled him out for the majority of the campaign, but he has recently admitted that he hopes to play again this season.
Midfielder Jakub Moder suffered a knee injury back in February which has kept him on the sidelines. Manager Roberto De Zerbi said that he hopes to have the player back available before the end of the season.
Defender Tariq Lamptey has been sidelined with a knee injury since the start of March.
De Zerbi has stated that the full-back would not be fit to feature for Ghana during the international break, but did not say whether a return after the international break is on the cards.
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