Liverpool injury update: Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker latest news and potential return dates | OneFootball

Reds were without eight first-team players for trip to Old Trafford

Liverpool’s dismal run-in grew all the more frustrating on Sunday as they were beaten by Manchester United, missing out on a chance to qualify for the Champions League in doing so.

They were without some eight players for the match, with Alexander Isak added to the list of absentees as he picked up a minor groin injury in training.

Another pivotal match in the race to qualify for Europe awaits as Chelsea visit Anfield next weekend, but Liverpool have their work cut out for them as both first-choice strikers and goalkeepers remain sidelined. Slot will hope to have as many players available to him as possible for that match.

Liverpool were already facing a number of absentees ahead of facing Manchester United, but were not helped by reports emerging the night before kick-off claiming Alexander Isak had picked up a groin injury.

The reports were unfortunately confirmed when lineups were released and the Swede, who has spent much of this campaign on the sidelines, was not named among the 23.

Injured again: Alexander Isak

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Speaking ahead of kick-off, Arne Slot said the injury was only minor and that he hoped the big-money striker could return in time to face Chelsea next weekend.

He said: “With Alex, it wasn’t much but unfortunately, it was too much for him to be able to play. We are hoping to have him back next week but that is small margins.”

Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool this summer but was in danger of being denied a fairytale farewell after he suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s defeat of Crystal Palace.

Reports in the Egyptian press immediately suggested he was due to remain sidelined for the remainder of the season, but a Liverpool club statement has since confirmed the opposite.

It read: “It is anticipated Salah will return to action ahead of 2025-26’s conclusion and his departure from the Reds this summer.”

Slot later added: “Usually he's earlier fit than other players after a minor injury - because he has a minor injury. We expect him indeed to be back in the final part of the season, but not [vs Manchester United].”

Potential return date: May 9 vs Chelsea (H)

Sidelined: Mohamed Salah

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Alisson

It had been hoped that Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson could recover from his hamstring injury in time to face United, but he joined Isak in being omitted from the matchday squad.

He has now missed eight matches on the spin, and Slot promised after the Crystal Palace match that he was ‘close’ to making a comeback.

Speaking ahead of facing United, though, the Dutchman said he is yet to return to first-team training.

“Alisson hasn’t trained with us yet, so that makes it quite simple. We are hoping for him to be ready next week but we have to wait and see how the week will go,” he told Sky Sports.

Potential return date: May 9 vs Chelsea (H)

Hugo Ekitike

Hugo Ekitike had been enjoying a superb debut campaign for Liverpool, but is now facing several months on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain.

He has since undergone surgery but is facing around nine months out as he recovers, meaning he will miss this summer’s World Cup and the opening stages of the new Premier League season.

Hugo Ekitike has ruptured his Achilles Tendon

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Slot said of Ekitike: “The surgery went well. That's the first important step that he had to make.

“But I think in such a long rehab process there are so many crucial steps to be made before you can actually say it's going to take that amount of months or that amount of months. It's going to take a long time.”

Potential return date: Winter 2026

Giorgi Mamardashvili

Giorgi Mamardashvili was handed a long-awaited run in Liverpool’s starting XI after Alisson’s injury, but he was cruelly sidelined with a knee injury during the Merseyside derby.

He was stretchered off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with what Slot described as a “big wound” after a nasty coming-together with striker Beto.

Before facing Crystal Palace, Slot said: “Giorgi will definitely not be available for tomorrow and also not for the upcoming weeks.”

He did not feature in the matchday squad at Old Trafford, and no further update has been issued as to his condition.

Wataru Endo

Wataru Endo’s season was curtailed when he was stretchered off at the Stadium of Light in February with a serious ankle injury.

The midfielder was thought to be out for the season, but is already back in individual training at the AXA Training Centre and may be back in time to play again before the World Cup.

Slot said: “Wata is starting to go outside, not with the team yet, but starting to do exercises outside on the pitch with the rehab team so he is making steps, but he will not be available next week for [Manchester] United or the week after.

Wataru Endo was stretchered off at the Stadium of Light

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Conor Bradley

Liverpool’s defensive availability problems were not helped when Conor Bradley suffered a season-ending knee injury against Arsenal in January.

He avoided an ACL rupture but required surgery regardless and will not play again until the summer.

Giovanni Leoni

The young centre-back Giovanni Leoni arrived at Liverpool to much fanfare last summer but his first season has not gone to plan.

He suffered an ACL rupture late in an impressive debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

He has since undergone surgery and is not expected to play again until next season.

Slot recently gave an update on the player’s condition, though, saying: “If you look at Giovanni Leoni, I don't know if you once in a while see some Instagram posts from the club, this guy becomes a beast.”