Liverpool injuries and return dates with Víctor Muñoz and 5 others sidelined
Liverpool maintained their perfect Champions League record on Tuesday night after defeating Villarreal 4-3 in entertaining fashion. The Reds were two down but rallied back to 4-2 up before conceding a late goal and enduring a nervy finish.
Andoni Iraola's men still look leaky at the back, but they are showing some positive signs, especially with the likes of Rio Ngumoha and Alex Mac Allister. Ahead of a tricky Premier League clash with Brighton this weekend, we have taken a look at the current injury situation at Anfield.
Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike continues his rehab from an Achilles issue. Iraola said last week: "They are both doing very well. I think they are in a good place. Hugo is a little bit behind [Bradley], but that was always the plan. He is still doing very well... It’s difficult [to give a timescale] when they've been injured for so long."
Possible return date: Early January
Givoanni Leoni
Leoni has suffered a setback in his bid to return from a knee injury. Iraola said last week: "It’s taking more time than we wanted. The plan was to train with the team in this past international break [but] probably it’s going to be in the next [one], so we’ve lost one month in the process. He has to be very confident; the rehab process has to be very careful with him, and we want to make sure once he comes to the team, he stays in a good place."
Possible return date: Early January
Conor Bradley
Bradley is further ahead than the two others. He is on track to return next month from his long-term knee issue. Iraola has said: "Conor is not so far from training with the group - not full training but doing some things. It’s difficult [to give a timescale] when they've been injured for so long, but I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us."
Possible return date: Early December
Jeremie Frimpong
Frimpong picked up a fresh hamstring injury last week, and he will not spend around a month on the sidelines. Iraola confirmed: "Jeremy is obviously a new muscle injury, and it happened, I think, in the second or third minute that he was playing - difficult to predict. We will have to wait until he recovers, but it's going to be difficult, I think, before the break - we will try."
Possible return date: Late November
Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai returned last week and had to be taken off, but there is no new injury, Liverpool just want to be more careful with his return. Iraola has said: "He's not a new injury. I think it's in the same place he was probably past week. He hasn't worsened the injury, but probably we have to be a little bit more patient until he recovers fully... he's more or less in the same situation."
Víctor Muñoz
Muñoz has picked up a knee injury, but it is not understood to be serious. The winger could be back this weekend.
Possible return date: Sunday, October 25
Andoni Iraola is set to address the media ahead of Liverpool's showdown with Brighton, where all eyes will be on the manager’s team news. Following a chaotic night at Anfield in Europe, the Reds boss will give an update on his squad's fitness levels. Liverpool supporters will be desperately hoping for positive injury boosts and crucial confirmation that no new fitness blows have emerged from an intense week.
