Liverpool injury latest and possible return dates before the opening Premier League weekend trip to Newcastle, including fresh updates on Joe Gomez and Hugo Ekitike
Joe Gomez hasn't featured since the start of Liverpool's preseason campaign
Joe Gomez hasn't featured since the start of Liverpool's preseason campaign(Image: Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool currently has five players sidelined through injury as it heads toward the new Premier League season, which kicks off with Arsenal facing Coventry on Friday.
Andoni Iraola will offer a full update during his 1.30 pm (UK time) pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Sunday's trip to Newcastle, while Curtis Jones has sat out each of the last two friendlies amid interest from Inter Milan.
It is expected that Jones will depart Liverpool this summer, with a fee of around $41 million (£30 million) touted for the academy graduate. He only has one year left on his contract, and he wants a bigger role.
Having limped off early in pre-season, Joe Gomez is still sidelined. Iraola stated earlier in the summer that he would miss the start of the new campaign, with no exact date for his return having been confirmed.
Conor Bradley, meanwhile, is still working his way back to fitness following the serious injury he sustained against Arsenal at the start of the calendar year.
Once the Northern Ireland full-back returns to training, it might take some time for him to get back up to full sharpness. Jeremie Frimpong will have to step up in the meantime.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Another long-term absentee, Giovanni Leoni, who ruptured his ACL last September, has still not returned to team training, though he is not thought to be far away.
And Jayden Danns, who has a hamstring issue, is still being managed. He is ready for a loan exit, but has been unable to take part in pre-season this summer due to his latest setback.
Finally, Hugo Ekitike will still be out for months yet. The French forward suffered an Achilles injury in April; a return date around Christmas time has been mentioned in the past in some quarters.
That will put pressure on Alexander Isak to stay fit, with Cody Gakpo another who can fill in at number nine. The latter remains on the agenda for Tottenham, however.
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"Liverpool might need a bit more time before they are challenging for the title again," former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy said this week.
"I am also not sure whether they think they have already got enough to replace Mohamed Salah by bringing in Victor Munoz and maybe giving Rio Ngumoha a bigger role, or whether they are really going to go for Paris St-Germain's Bradley Barcola, or someone like him, in the next few days."
Liverpool.com says: Clearly, the Reds need more depth before the September 1 transfer deadline. Work is ongoing behind the scenes to make that happen. Even with a relatively small number of injuries at the moment, Iraola's roster looks light.