A look at how the Liverpool squad is shaping up ahead of the return to Premier League action at home to Everton on Wednesday
Liverpool’s long wait to shrug off the disappointment of their toughest week of the season so far continues. The Reds suffered defeat in the Carabao Cup final and an heartbreaking exit from the Champions League before their extended break began.
And with having been knocked out of the FA Cup, it means the runaway Premier League leaders will have gone 17 days since the Wembley loss to Newcastle United before they finally return to action.
That will see Liverpool welcome neighbours Everton across Stanley Park to Anfield. on Wednesday, April 2 Always a massive match, the final Merseyside derby of the season will give the table-topping Reds the chance to extend or maintain their 12-point lead over second-placed Arsenal.
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Arne Slot’s squad should be fresh given their upcoming free weekend. But how many players will be available for the visit of the Blues?
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker had to be substituted with ‘suspected concussion’ in Brazil’s win over Colombia in the early hours of Friday morning.
Brazil’s national team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, said: “Becker suffered a trauma to the head region, he was replaced by a suspected concussion. Now we will do all the CBF protocol, it will undergo recommended imaging tests, a computed tomography, then a resonance with diffusion. If all the tests are normal, we’ll follow up and do a cognitive test. And then we will evaluate the player.
“In the possibility that everything is normal, we will make a sequence of observations in the coming days. Today, we will do the tests, all the necessary evaluations. Alisson is normal, with no complaints. He reported no fainting and no memory loss. He thought it was a little slower. In this complaint, the recommended is the replacement of the player.”
Liverpool would later release a statement confirming that Alisson was travelling back to Merseyside and would undergo assessment from their own medical staff. The Brazilian then posted an update on social media, saying: “Hey guys, just to let you know I’m fine. Just have to follow the protocols! Thanks for the messages.”
Liverpool head coach Slot will provide an update on Alisson when he holds a press conference to preview the showdown with Everton early next week.
Defenders Joe Gomez (hamstring), Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle) and Conor Bradley (hamstring) will play no part against David Moyes’ men given they are still sidelined by with their respective injuries. That means Jarell Quansah is likely to start at right-back.
Ryan Gravenberch is among several Reds players who have looked tired in recent weeks given the amount of games they have had to play this season.
And the midfielder withdrew from the Holland squad late last week with an unspecified injury that will be assessed on his return to Merseyside. But, like Alisson, you would hope he will be fit to start the derby.
Definitely out is Tyler Morton. The young midfielder has struggled for minutes this season but he would have been expected to feature more regularly after the New Year but for a shoulder issue initially suffered in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Southampton in December that required an operation in February.