Liverpool’s Staggering Injury Issue

It’s been quite surprising that Liverpool has gone from winning titles and achieving glory in recent seasons to struggling to perform on a game-to-game basis. Since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the nation, the Premier League has been more competitive than ever. Currently, the Reds sit fourth in the Premier League, seven points behind Manchester City at first place. For any team, being in a Champions League spot would be fantastic, but Liverpool FC manager Jürgen Klopp wishes to achieve much more with his team. Klopp has dealt with many problems throughout the season, including a loss of form for the front three and an inability to break the deadlock at times. All of these drawbacks can be attributed to one thing: Liverpool’s injury problem. One by one, key players are racking up injuries, making the team’s aspirations for this season almost unreachable.

Virgil van Dijk

Injury: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (Mid-October 2020)

Expected Return: May 2021

Virgil van Dijk has been suffering from knee ligament damage ever since Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Everton FC on October 17, 2020. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford went for a calamitous challenge with Van Dijk and managed to escape a possible red card after the latter was called offside. After Pickford drove straight into Van Dijk’s knees, Van Dijk dropped to the floor, grimacing from a torn ACL. Klopp was dismayed after the match, expressing his worries about the duration of Van Dijk’s absence. “I do not know,” Klopp told beIN Sports. “So it is not good. [Van Dijk] played for us—I do not know how many games in a row—he plays with pain, he plays with pretty much everything, but he couldn’t play on. That’s not good.” Since his injury, Van Dijk has undergone successful surgery in London and is in the rehabilitation phase of his recovery. A crucial player for the Reds since his signing in January 2018, Van Dijk is truly missed on the Liverpool side. Without him, Liverpool’s back line has no firm force organizing or guiding them while defending. As a result, Klopp has transformed defensive midfielder Fabinho (Fábio Henrique Tavares), who has recently suffered from a minor muscular injury, into a center back to replace Van Dijk.

Joe Gomez

Injury: Knee (Early November 2020)

Expected Return: Out for 2020-21 Season

Joe Gomez has been dealing with patella problems since he took a tumble during an England international team training session. Klopp has admitted that Gomez bruised his knee badly and would presumably be out for the rest of the season. “Gomez is actually in a pretty good place but far away from being back,” Klopp told reporters. “He walks round, looks completely normal, is not yet out on the pitch running, or even out of the gym. It’s just a really tough injury as well.” Though he is only 23, Gomez has been a helpful center back for the Reds, amassing 130 appearances for the club. Since his injury in November 2020, Liverpool has been struggling at the defensive line, and Klopp has had to deploy youth players and players who are not naturally center backs. This has completely altered Liverpool’s counter-pressing structure and made it harder for them in defensive transitions.

Diogo Jota

Injury: Knee (Mid-December 2020)

Expected Return: Mid-February 2021

A new arrival to the club, Diogo Jota is currently suffering from a bruised knee after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League. Though his injury might not seem as much of a scare with a front three of Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino, and Mohamed Salah, his return is timely, as Liverpool has struggled to rack up goals as of late. It’s been tough for Klopp, who has only won five Premier League games out of the last 13 without Jota. A week ago, Klopp explained, “He needs time. How much I miss him is not important. I am not allowed to miss him. He is not there, and we deal with it.” Jota began his career with the Reds superbly, scoring nine goals in the Premier League and Champions League. He has transitioned well into the squad, playing on either wing and sometimes playing as a center forward. With his return imminent in February, the Anfield supporters hope that he will improve the offense for 2021.

Naby Keïta

Injury: Soft Tissue Muscle (Mid December 2020)

Expected Return: Early February 2021

Naby Keïta has had his fair share of difficulties since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, regularly stuck on the bench and left out of the squad for quarantine or injuries. He has managed to start the first four games of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign but struggled to play the subsequent games. Keïta failed to feature since Liverpool’s substantial 7-0 victory against Crystal Palace in December 2020. Klopp explained that he contracted a muscle problem, and the club wishes to take his recovery process slow to prevent further aggravation. Though Keïta has rarely featured for the Reds since his big money move from RB Leipzig, Klopp hopes to get him playing his best in a Liverpool shirt. In his absence, the club has missed ball progression and creativity from the midfield, and fans hope that he will return to link with fellow midfielders Thiago Alcântara and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Joël Matip

Injury: Ligament (Late January 2021)

Expected Return: Out for 2020-21 Season

Joël Matip has suffered from injuries throughout the season. He was ruled out for a month after an adductor problem in December. Matip was most recently injured in Liverpool’s 3-1 win against the Tottenham Hotspurs, Liverpool’s first victory of the new year. Klopp sent in a substitute at halftime and, following the game, explained that the damage to Matip’s ankle ligaments was serious. In a press conference, Klopp explained, “Last night I was after the game, especially with that [Matip injury], pretty emotional just because at halftime the boys [are] sitting there. Now, meanwhile, there are still glimpses of hope that it’s not serious.” A few days after the match, Liverpool revealed that his fractured ligament ruled him out for the entire season, which devastated the squad. Matip has always put in a good shift for the Reds and has enjoyed some spectacular moments with the club, winning the Champions League and Premier League. His injury has made prospects significantly worse for the club, especially with half the season left to play.

Klopp has insisted that the club didn’t need to break the bank for a new signing each time a key player was ruled out by injury, but with three first choice center-backs out for lengthy periods of time, Klopp now has very little say. On Deadline Day, the last day before the transfer market closes, the German manager brought in center backs Ozan Kabak from Schalke 04 and Ben Davies from Preston North End. With his replacement options and hopes of his players returning from injury, Klopp wishes for his squad to do the best it can in its upcoming matches. Though it will be tough for his team to score goals and defend with a new backline, Klopp is an experienced manager, and all managers must go through difficulties in order to bring their teams back to success.