Injury worries: Alexander Isak, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo
Arne Slot is sweating over Alexis Mac Allister’s fitness as Liverpool gear up to visit Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Argentine midfielder was taken off late in the second half after a heavy tackle as Liverpool knocked Wolves out of the FA Cup on Friday evening, their second trip to Molineux in the space of four days.
It was a case of one in, one out for Liverpool that day, though. While Mac Allister came off injured, Florian Wirtz appeared off the bench, making his comeback from a back injury.
The German’s return is a huge boost for Slot, who will hope to have as many options at his disposal as possible as the Reds visit Istanbul this week.
With that in mind, here is all the latest Liverpool injury news and potential return dates...
Alexis Mac Allister
Alexis Mac Allister started at Molineux as Liverpool knocked Wolves out of the FA Cup, but was withdrawn late in the second half after being subject to a crunching tackle by Hwang Hee-chan.
He appeared to jar his knee in the process and received treatment on the pitch before being replaced by Trey Nyoni, a change which had been planned before the tackle.
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Mac Allister did, however, walk off the pitch under his own steam.
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Speaking at full-time, Slot played down any fears that he had suffered a serious issue.
Slot did not offer much detail, but, asked whether the player was OK, he said: “I think so, yes.”
He may offer a further update when he previews the Galatasaray clash from Istanbul on Monday evening, but for now it seems Mac Allister will be fit for that tie.
Potential return date: March 10 vs Galatasaray (A)
Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak’s first season with Liverpool has certainly been one to forget.
The record summer signing, who went on strike to force his way out of Newcastle, has been sidelined since suffering a severe ankle injury in December.
After scoring in a 2-1 defeat of Tottenham, he suffered a fibula fracture after being tackled by Micky van de Ven, and has missed 17 matches since.
He may finally be closing in on a return to action, though, after Sweden manager Graham Potter suggested he could make a return for this month’s international break.
Alexander Isak suffered a severe injury to his ankle and lower leg after a tackle by Micky van de Ven
Slot, though, has tempered expectation, saying an April comeback seems a more likely timeline.
"It will be somewhere around [the March international break] and then it's always the question if things go really well or if he gets a little bit of a setback,” the Dutchman explained.
“So, it will be around that period of time - end of March, start of April when he's hopefully back with the group.
"When you're back with the group it's not to say that you are ready to play, let alone start, a game of football because, again, he's been out for months and the last time he's been out for months I think we could all see that it took him a while before he was the player we have signed from Newcastle."
The possibility of Isak representing his nation this month has also been played down by reports in the Swedish press.
Potential return date: Late March/ earlyApril
Wataru Endo
Wataru Endo was handed a rare start as Liverpool beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on February 11, but his night came to a premature end.
He was stretchered off early in the second-half with a foot injury, and Slot has issued a grim prognosis.
He said at full-time: “Wata will be out for a long time. We don't know exactly how long, but long."
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu said he hopes to have Endo back in time for the World Cup, also revealing that he has undergone surgery.
He said: “I’ve heard that he had surgery. I’ve heard that it went well, but I don’t know the details of how it went.
“The plan is for him to be ready in time for the World Cup, so the rehabilitation process from surgery onwards is being considered.
“In order to play in the World Cup, he, the club, and we all share the same understanding.”
Potential return date: June
Conor Bradley
Liverpool’s defensive selection headaches are down in no small part to Conor Bradley’s extended injury layoff.
The Northern Irishman suffered a serious knee injury late in Liverpool’s goalless draw with Arsenal in January, ruling him out for the season.
In a slight consolation for Bradley, though, he avoided a dreaded ACL rupture.
A Liverpool club statement read: “Liverpool FC can confirm Conor Bradley has sustained a significant knee injury.
“The right-back suffered the issue in the latter stages of Thursday night's Premier League fixture away at Arsenal.
“Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days and then begin a period of rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre.
“No timeframe is being placed on his return to playing at this stage of the process.”
Potential return date: Summer 2026
Giovanni Leoni
Giovanni Leoni arrived at Liverpool to huge excitement, but the 19-year-old’s first season on Merseyside was over as soon as it began.
He tore his ACL on debut as Liverpool edged past Southampton in the Carabao Cup in September.
The Italian will hope to make his return to the pitch by the start of next season.
“He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for around a year,” said Slot.
“Being so young, coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game … it’s very hard to take the positive side.
“There’s never a positive side but he is still so young so he has many years to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”
Potential return date: September 2026