Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that they will be without goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota for their next fixture against Premier League champions Manchester City.
Not how the Reds want to kick off their campaign when they come up against their biggest title rivals, Manchester City, on Saturday, in the Community Shield match that raises the curtain for the English Premier League 2022/2023 campaign, the 31st instalment of the competition.
Klopp will have to select his starting XI and bench without two key players in mind: Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota. Added to the misery of the two first-teamers out of action, their young backup stopper, Caoimhin Kelleher, is also out of action. It leaves them with one option in Adrian.
For Jota, the injury setback appears to be worse, with Klopp noting there is no way he will be back in time for Saturday’s encounter and their Premier League opener against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, 06 August.
It doesn’t end there, and Liverpool’s list of injuries includes:
- Kostas Tsimikas;
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain;
- Calvin Ramsay
🚨 NEW: Liverpool have released a full list of the injuries within the squad.
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) July 28, 2022
Alisson Becker, Kostas Tsimikas, Diogo Jota, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calvin Ramsay and Caoimhin Kelleher are all injured - with Alisson thought to be the closest back to full fitness. #lfc [lfc]
Alisson Only Back for Fulham Encounter?
Not all’s lost for the Reds manager, with him optimistic that his number 1 stopper will be back in time for their game against Fulham.
"Alisson Becker will miss Liverpool’s Community Shield against Manchester City this weekend – but will be available for the start of the Premier League season.And Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had a gloomier injury update over Diogo Jota by admitting it could “take a while” before the forward recovers from his hamstring injury."
More recent news suggests there could be an even bigger Alisson boost. After watching from the sideline for most of the preseason with an abdominal issue, he was pictured in training on Friday after Klopp gave an update on his team’s issues.
"Alisson has sat out the last three friendlies having suffered an abdominal issue during the Singapore leg of the Far East tour earlier this month. (Via: liverpoolecho.co.uk)"
Alisson Becker is back in training for #LFC. A big boost for Jurgen Klopp ahead of the Community Shield against Manchester City on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/Sy2MdLryzm
— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) July 28, 2022
As per other reports: there is no indication when the rest of the injuried players will return to action, but this hasn’t forced Liverpool to rethink their stance in the transfer market; they have made it clear they are done shopping for fresh faces this summer.
Manchester City No Injury News
The champions of England have had a steady but subdued summer prep. They only played two warm-up games and won both. They have no fresh injury scares and look as if they are ready to unleash the beast, Erling Haaland.
All of City’s new boys are in contention for a start on Saturday in the FA Community Shield matchup. This after Haaland worked his way back to full fitness in good time.
The Reds come off the back of a 1-0 loss to Austrian side, RB Salzburg, away from home. They will need their two-time Golden Glove winner to be available if they are to match a side with Haaland in it.
The world cannot wait for the prospect of the Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland battle this weekend, for the rest of the Premier League campaign, and for their time at their respective clubs, Liverpool and Manchester City.