The very latest on the Liverpool injury and availability situation before the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton at St Mary's
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Diogo Jota of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 training and press conference at AXA Training Centre on December 09, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Diogo Jota reported a problem after his Liverpool return at the weekend
(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool turn their attention to the defence of the Carabao Cup tonight. The Premier League and Champions League leaders head to managerless Southampton for a quarter-final clash (8pm kick-off).
The Reds, who won last season's competition with a dramatic Wembley final win over Chelsea, will be hot favourites to progress to the last four.
Southampton are in crisis, sitting bottom of the Premier League and nine points adrift of safety and having sacked manager Russell Martin after Sunday night's humiliating 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
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But while Liverpool have no such problems, they have drawn their last two Premier League games, seeing their lead at the top cut to two points by Chelsea as a result, and the injury and suspension situation is not exactly improving for Arne Slot - not yet at least.
So ahead of this evening's big match, here is a look at who is and who is not available for Slot...
Diogo Jota
Injury: Unknown
Fresh from his goalscoring return off the bench on Saturday, which earned the 10-men Reds a draw at home to Fulham, it would have been expected that Diogo Jota would have started tonight, in a bid to build-up his match fitness going into one of the most busy and important parts of the season.
But speaking at his press conference yesterday, Slot revealed that the Portugal international forward, having just returned from a two-month lay-off, will not be able to start against the Saints.
The Liverpool boss said: “Diogo would have been definitely one that was ideal for him to play. But after the game, he wasn’t completely fit.
“He didn’t train with us yesterday so let’s see if he can train with us today. Don’t expect him to start. Hopefully he can make some minutes but I don’t expect him to start tomorrow.”
Possible return date: Southampton (A), Carabao Cup, December 18
Kostas Tsimikas
Injury: Ankle
There was better news concerning Kostas Tsimikas. The Greece international left-back has been missing since the 3-2 Premier League victory at Southampton on November 24 after he picked up an ankle injury in training.
But Slot confirmed that Tsimikas was due to train with the team yesterday.
Possible return date: Southampton (A), Carabao Cup, December 18
Andy Robertson
Injury: Knee
Tsimikas' return is timely. Andy Robertson, Liverpool's first-choice left-back, is suspended for the last-eight showdown with the Saints after being sent off against Fulham.
But more concerningly was what Virgil van Dijk said after that match, highlighting the fact that the Scotland captain had picked up early in the match. The Reds skipper said: “That moment, the first one where he gets the kick on the knee - hopefully it isn't a big injury - that's a dangerous one and in the moments after it happened it is not easy for him or all of us.
“But we are there for him, like always, and he has been so good for us and he will be still for us. Hopefully no bad injury and he can be back in the team and be good again.”
Possible return date: Tottenham Hotspur (A), Premier League, December 22
Ibrahima Konate
Injury: Knee
Ibrahima Konate took a heavy knock to his knee in a challenge by Real Madrid substitute Endrick in the last action of the Champions League match at Anfield on November 27 and required lengthy treatment after the final whistle before limping off. The France international centre-back was then spotted on crutches the following weekend.
Konate has yet to return to training.
Possible return date: Unknown
Conor Bradley
Injury: Hamstring
Conor Bradley was forced off with a few minutes remaining against Real Madrid with a hamstring injury.
Slot has not put a timeframe on the Northern Ireland international right-back's return but a report in his homeland suggested he could be out for six weeks, which would rule him out of the festive programme.
Like Konate, Bradley has not returned to training.
Possible return date: Unknown