Assessing the Extent of Liverpool’s Injury Crisis

Currently Liverpool sit a top of one table quite comfortably, however it’s probably not in an area that the club will take pride in. With a Premier League winning total of over ten injuries, including two season-ending disasters, the team are experiencing somewhat of an injury crisis, to put it mildly – a situation that is certainly not the ideal start for a new manager wishing to assess the quality of his squad in time for the January transfer window.

Although the extent of Liverpool’s injury crisis is predominantly unfortunate, for Jordan Rossiter at least, Klopp has been quick to condemn the unnecessarily brutal requirements of English football.

“These young players are our future… if we handle them like horses, we get horses [I have] never heard of a player of this age” playing so many games in so few days – Jurgen Klopp

Yet, Rossiter’s injury is part of a distinctly larger problem at the club. With a host of talent across all areas of the pitch unavailable through injury, Liverpool face a real impairment in the approaching weeks ahead.

Short-Term – Jordan Ibe, Kolo Toure, Jordan Rossiter, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge(?)

Expected Return: 21^st November

Thankfully, a large portion of Liverpool’s current absentees will look to return in time for the clash against Manchester City. Jordan Ibe was unlucky to pull up with a knee injury after a blistering start under Klopp. And, with Liverpool often starting with three attacking midfielders Ibe’s return will be of great importance.

“He obviously did a great job at Borussia Dortmund and the fact that the young players he brought in were a big part of the success is very encouraging for guys like me… the youngsters at Dortmund didn’t just become a little bit better either – some of them, like Robert Lewandowski, have become players who are operating at the highest level in the Champions League” – Jordan Ibe on Jurgen Klopp.

The return of team captain Jordan Henderson after a lengthy spell out with a metatarsal fracture will almost feel like gaining a new player, particularly for Klopp. Henderson is yet to play for the German, and having targeted a return after the international break his involvement in a tough fixture could be crucial if the hard working midfielder is fit enough to feature.

Fringe players Kolo Toure and Jordan Rossiter are seemingly unlikely to be of such importance. However, Sakho’s recent injury and Liverpool’s lack of depth in central midfield, coupled with a congested fixture list, suggests that these two will feature more prominently, especially over the first few weeks back from the international break.

And last, but not least, Daniel Sturridge, our all thumbs, injury-prone, made of glass, disaster waiting to happen – what do we do with you? With a worrying percentage of the fan-base who have all but lost hope for the once prolific goalscorer, a successful return before December could revitalise his intermittent career with a new chapter under Klopp. Although history suggests to not get your hopes up too much, after a 71-day period out last November the striker survived under a month before being side-lined for a further 164 days.

(While all five players will return from injury prior to the Manchester City game, it remains to be seen over which players will be fit enough to start)

Medium-Term – Jon Flanagan and Mamadou Sakho

Expected Return: 21^st December and 23^rd December – 6^th January respectively

The return of the forgotten full back, Jon Flanagan, will certainly be a boost to the team, though the magnitude of his knee injury has ensured that Liverpool have largely been able to provide cover for the 22-year old. Yet, a versatile full-back will be of real use to Liverpool when considering our involvement in numerous competitions, and the injury of Joe Gomez. And, if the ‘Scouse Cafu’ returns to the form he displayed such as in a man of the match display in the Mersyside derby two years ago or a 5-1 drubbing of Arsenal, he is unlikely to simply come back as a squad player.

The extend of Sakho’s injury will mean he will miss Premier League games against Manchester City, Swansea City, Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Watford as well as the Capital One Cup quarter-final and Europa League ties with Bordeaux and Sion. Whilst eight weeks out would also include matches against Leicester City and Sunderland. A relatively easy run for Liverpool will be of some consolation; however, Sakho’s largely invulnerable form will be a real loss. Simply enough missing our best centre-back means either Toure or Lovren must step up, and though we have able replacements, it is unclear or rather unlikely that either will be as controlling or competent as Sakho.

Long-Term – Joe Gomez and Danny Ings

Expected Return: June 2016

Danny Ings and Joe Gomez’s Liverpool injuries were inauspiciously similar. A fervent start by both ensured an equally enthusiastic support from fans, as both players dispelled the notion that they were content for the bench or unable to start ahead of assumed regulars. Yet, ACL injuries evidently have no sympathy, and the infamous knee injury has occurred at perhaps the worst time for both players. A somewhat deterioration in form, along with Moreno’s improvements defensively ultimately means that Gomez’s position appears covered. Yet, Gomez certainly has age on his side, and a return next year will be savoured by the Anfield faithful, with the youngster appearing to be one of Liverpool, and England’s greatest prospects in defense. The guidance of Lucas Leiva will be of great use in the sense, with Gomez stating the support of the Brazilian being a major source of help.

“Lucas has been brilliant in terms of giving me advice and keeping me positive. Every day I see him he talks me through this stage of the injury and how it went for him” – Joe Gomez

As one of only a handful of strikers currently contained in the Liverpool ranks, Ings will perhaps be even more disappointed to miss out, especially after running himself silly to get into the first team. Undoubtedly, Liverpool should be looking for a striker in January, which will not make Ings’ return any easier. Until then this injury looks to be one of the more ominous ones for the club. Origi appears to be too much of a raw talent to lead the line alone, and Daniel Sturridge cannot be counted on for such a role either. Christian Benteke therefore, is Liverpool’s only prospect in the improbable event that the latter remains fit. But, with Benteke’s shooting boots a world away in our last match, the Belgium will need to discover the frightening form he possessed earlier in the season, if we want to score more than once a game regularly.

Unknown Return – Connor Randall and James Milner

In the Capital One Cup tie against Bournemouth Connor Randall suffered a muscular injury requiring Nathaniel Clyne to take the youngsters position at right-back. Once a captain of the England U18’s the academy talent looked to feature more regularly under Klopp prior to the injury. It is unlikely to be of serious consequence however, with Randall doubtful to be in contention for the match against Manchester City anyway, though he will surely be able to fill in after the international break when required.

James Milner was substituted after an hour against Rubin Kazan having appeared to be in mild discomfort with a hamstring injury, this ensured that the midfielder also missed out on Liverpool’s loss against of-course-it-had-to-be-them Crystal Palace. Milner has also ruled himself out of joining the England squad for two upcoming friendlies, and it’s unclear when he will return. Certainly, I believe Milner will not be the greatest loss on current form, however, a lively comeback would be relished by all.

The Extent of the Crisis.

In all, the loss of Danny Ings, and the continued instability of Daniel Sturridge’s fitness are likely to be of most concern for the club, with Liverpool’s limited striker options a well-known problem. Although incredibly unfortunate, a potential silver-lining of these circumstances could be the increased impetus to purchase another striker in the transfer window.

Fan-favourite, and ‘yes he is actually good on the ball’ centre-back Mamadou Sakho is also a big blow. Whilst we can be thankful the Frenchman hasn’t endured an ACL injury like Ings or Gomez, the prospect of Dejan Lovren’s return is hardly comforting (with many fans experiencing a form of footballing-PTSD from his antics against West Ham). However, the ex-Southampton captain certainly has a chance to prove himself as he did in a superb debut season in the Premier League.

While a new striker and successful performances from Lovren would certainly be an optimistic conclusion to Liverpool’s injury crisis it is unlikely either will occur in time for the club to avoid dropping points. Though the return of Jon Flanagan and Jordan Henderson will feel like gaining new players for Klopp – make no mistake about it, Liverpool are experiencing an injury crisis that must be responded to by a handful of replacements, with some of which appearing seemingly incapable of the task.