Liverpool injury update: Federico Chiesa, Conor Bradley, Alexander Isak latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Rio Ngumoha shakes off a knock in big fitness boost but Liverpool drop points at home

Liverpool’s frustrating start to 2026 improved somewhat on Wednesday night.

After drawing four consecutive Premier League matches left the mood in camp low, the Reds cruised to a 3-0 defeat of Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

Mohamed Salah was back in the fold, too, having returned from AFCON, where he finished fourth with Egypt.

It was not all good news, though, as a new injury absentee joined those in the physio’s office, with Arne Slot confirming Federico Chiesa had been injured in training before travelling to France.

Here is all the latest Liverpool injury news and return dates ahead of facing another lengthy away day, with a trip to Bournemouth the next item on the agenda.

Federico Chiesa

Federico Chiesa has struggled to crack Arne Slot’s first team this season, but was denied the opportunity to play against Marseille in midweek by injury.

He picked up a new issue in training on Tuesday, but, given it seemed minor, travelled to France in the hopes he could feature at the Stade Velodrome.

After attempting warmups, though, it was decided he would play no part in the match.

Speaking at full-time, Slot explained: “Yesterday (Tuesday), he stepped out of the training session.

"We took him with us because we don't expect it to be a long-term injury.

"Because we stay here tonight, we are here a bit longer. We thought it was good for him to have his treatment over here and we were hoping that maybe he would have been fit in time. But he wasn't.

"He tried in the warm-up and he wasn't able to play. That's why he wasn't on the bench."

Potential return date: Saturday January 24 vs Bournemouth (A)

Conor Bradley

Bradley was forced off in the goalless draw at Arsenal earlier in the month after landing awkwardly near the touchline when chasing the ball in injury time.

The right-back has avoided an ACL injury but will need surgery to repair damage to ligaments and bone in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season

Bradley’s injury is a major blow for Liverpool and he will also miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off against Italy in March.

Conor Bradley faces a long spell on the sidelines

AP

A Liverpool statement reads: “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: Unknown

Alexander Isak

Liverpool have been without Alexander Isak since he was injured while opening the scoring in the 2-1 win at Tottenham before Christmas after a challenge from Micky van de Ven that Slot criticised as “reckless”.

The Swedish international received treatment before being helped off the pitch and it later transpired that he had suffered an ankle injury that included a fractured fibula and required surgery.

An exact timeframe has not been put on Isak’s recovery, but he is expected to be sidelined for a period of months.

Arne Slot was not happy with this challenge on Alexander Isak

Getty Images

“It's going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” said Slot, who added that he expected Isak to play again this season. “It's a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us.”

Potential return date: March

Giovanni Leoni

Giovanni Leoni will miss the rest of the season and likely the start of the next after he sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament on his Liverpool debut in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton in September.

The young Italian defender, a summer signing from Parma, was ruled out for approximately 12 months after surgery and still has a long way to go in terms of his rehabilitation.

Rotten luck: Giovanni Leoni tore his ACL on debut for Liverpool in the Carabao Cup

Getty Images

“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