With a number of important first team players already sidelined, the £100m man Florian Wirtz was forced off with a twisted ankle in the second half, after his deflected shot opened the scoring against the Seagulls.
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shot → sideline → Seagulls
It is not a good time to be going down.
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It → go → ?
Liverpool face a Carabao Cup last-16 match against Chelsea on Wednesday, before facing Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Crystal Palace before the November international break.
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Liverpool → face → break
With that in mind, here is all the latest Liverpool news and potential return dates...
Florian Wirtz
After putting in an impressive first hour against Brighton, Florian Wirtz was unfortunate to be forced off with a knock to the ankle.
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was → put → ankle
Speaking at full time, Iraola said the problem, a twist, appeared minor and that he hoped it would not leave Wirtz out for too long.
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it → speak → long
The Spaniard explained: “Unfortunately, he had to leave the pitch with a small twist of the ankle.
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he → explain → ankle
It doesn't look big, but we'll see.”
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we → look → ?
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He will hope the German is only facing a matter of days on the sidelines.
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German → read → sidelines
Potential return date: October 28 vs Chelsea (H) OR November 1 vs Arsenal (H)
Dominik Szoboszlai
He was ruled out for the meetings with Man City and LASK, before returning to face Brentford, though he lasted barely half an hour there before being forced off again.
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he → rule → hour
Iraola confirmed he had reaggravated the same hamstring problem, and the Hungarian midfielder subsequently missed meetings with Villarreal and Brighton.
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midfielder → confirm → Villarreal
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s latest match, though, Iraola suggested Szoboszlai is close to a comeback: “Dom is going to be out this weekend, I don’t think he is far [away from a return] but he has not trained with the group still and also considering that the other day we started him and he had to go out.
“
uncertain
he → speak → him
He is in a good place, he is already training outside alone and is going to train with the group, but he is not ready for this one.”
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he → train → one
Potential return date: November 1 vs Arsenal (H)
Victor Munoz
It has only been described as a knock and Munoz was able to finish the match at the Gtech Stadium, but it was severe enough an issue to rule him out against Brighton.
“It was too early the other day against Villarreal, and I think it is going to be difficult [for Brighton] but I really don't know,” Iraola said on Friday.
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Iraola → describe → Friday
Iraola’s pre-match comments, though, suggested he might be closing in on a return to play ahead of this week’s meetings with Chelsea and Arsenal.
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he → suggest → Chelsea
Potential return date: October 28 vs Chelsea (H) OR November 1 vs Arsenal (H)
Jeremie Frimpong
The Dutch fullback was forced off shortly after his introduction against Brentford, and Iraola said afterwards that he would likely be ruled out until after the November international break.
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he → force → break
“Jeremie Frimpong is obviously a new muscle injury and it happened, I think, in the second or third minute he was playing, difficult to predict and we will have to wait until he recovers.
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he → happen → minute
“But it’s going to be difficult, I think, before the [November international] break.
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I → go → break
We will try but it’s going to be difficult to have him.”
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it → try → him
Potential return date: November 22 vs Manchester United (H)
Hugo Ekitike
Hugo Ekitike is slowly closing in on a return to play after he tore his Achilles tendon back in April.
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he → close → April
He underwent surgery and has been rehabbing in Kirkby since, with a return to training now on the horizon.
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return → undergo → horizon
Speaking last week, Iraola said the Frenchman is “doing very well.
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Frenchman → speak → ?
It is hoped he can return to the pitch before the turn of the year.
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he → hop → year
Potential return date: November/December
Conor Bradley
Conor Bradley is also close to returning from the serious knee injury he sustained against Arsenal in January.
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he → return → January
He missed the remainder of the campaign and is yet to feature in this one, but Iraola has confirmed he is making progress in his recovery programme.
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he → miss → programme
Speaking last week, the Liverpool head coach explained: “[He is] doing very well.
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He → speak → ?
“I think [he is] in a good place.
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he → think → place
Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group.
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Conor → do → group
“I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us."
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Conor → think → us
He will not be rushed back to the pitch, though, with a return to competitive play not likely until after the November international break.
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return → rush → break
Potential return date: November 22 vs Manchester United (H)
Giovanni Leoni
Giovanni Leoni was a victim of terrible fortune after tearing his ACL on his Liverpool debut last year.
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Leoni → tear → debut
Iraola has told reporters that he is not recovering quite as quickly as Liverpool had hoped, with a delay of around one month, but that he is on track to return to team training after the November international break.
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he → tell → break
He will be dreaming of a return to competitive play before the year is out.
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year → dream → play
The Aporia
