Andoni Iraola’s side held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout after Cody Gakpo and Morgan Rogers had exchanged successful spot-kicks during the 90 minutes, making it an unhappy Merseyside homecoming for midfield great Xabi Alonso.
asserted
it → hold → Alonso
Liverpool have now won all of their last five matches across all competitions since a sobering 3-0 home loss to Manchester City after the international break, raising tentative hopes of a potential title charge this term.
asserted
Liverpool → win → charge
They have a reunion with former striker stalwart Dirk Kuyt coming up as they travel to Fenerbahce in the Champions League, with derbies against Manchester United and Everton also on the horizon.
asserted
they → have → horizon
But first it’s Arsenal, who have not won at Anfield since 2012 and are reeling from their Carabao Cup humiliation at the hands of fourth-tier Fleetwood.
asserted
who → ’ → Fleetwood
Liverpool fans were left frustrated that Dominik Szoboszlai aggravated a hamstring injury on international duty with Hungary last month.
asserted
Szoboszlai → leave → Hungary
The midfielder was then forced off with a recurrence of the same issue in his first game back - the 2-1 win at Brentford.
asserted
midfielder → force → Brentford
He has not featured since, missing out against Villarreal, Brighton and Chelsea, having also previously been sidelined for the meetings with Manchester City and LASK Linz.
asserted
He → feature → City
“I think they have a chance,” he said.
asserted
he → think → chance
“They have a chance.
asserted
They → have → chance
But I don’t know for sure if they will be involved or not.
asserted
they → know → ?
We still have two days so I think we have a chance, yes.”
asserted
we → have → chance
The former Manchester City, Celtic and Bayer Leverkusen full-back - also injured against Brentford - has been plagued by hamstring issues throughout his time at Anfield so far.
asserted
back → injure → Anfield
On Frimpong, Iraola last said: “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.
asserted
he → say → minute
“But it’s going to be difficult, I think, before the [November international] break.
asserted
I → go → break
We will try but it’s going to be difficult to have him.”
asserted
it → try → him
Munoz managed to play the full 90 minutes against Brentford, but it was revealed after the game that the Spanish winger had picked up a knock.
asserted
winger → manage → knock
Viewed as a minor issue, it prevented Munoz from featuring against Brighton.
asserted
it → view → Brighton
However, Iraola’s comments leading up to the game hinted at a possible return this weekend, especially after he was not risked in the Chelsea clash.
asserted
he → lead → clash
Last Friday, Iraola revealed: “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.”
asserted
I → reveal → Brighton
He then said before the Arsenal game of Munoz and Szoboszlai: “I think they have a chance.
“
asserted
they → say → chance
They have a chance.
asserted
They → have → chance
But I don’t know for sure if they will be involved or not.
asserted
they → know → ?
We still have two days so I think we have a chance, yes.”
asserted
we → have → chance
Potential return date: Sunday November 1, vs Arsenal (H)
Giovanni Leoni
Giovanni Leoni has become somewhat of a forgotten man at Anfield after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on his Liverpool debut in the Carabao Cup last September.
asserted
Leoni → become → Cup
Only weeks prior the young defender had made a £26million switch from Parma.
asserted
defender → make → Parma
Leoni’s recovery journey revealed that it was not just an ACL tear, with further complications found.
asserted
complications → reveal → ?
He has since completed surgery and been out for 13 months.
asserted
He → complete → months
It was initially hoped that he would return to training during the last international break, but instead, Liverpool now believe that Leoni will be back out on the grass during November’s international window.
asserted
Leoni → hop → window
“It’s taking more time than we wanted,” said Iraola.
asserted
Iraola → take → time
“The planning was to train with the team in this past international break [but] probably it’s going to be in the next international break, so we’ve lost one month in the process.
asserted
we → train → process
“Giovanni’s injury, I wasn’t here but talking to the medical department, it was not just an ACL – it was a bad injury, a lot of things around the knee were involved apart from the ACL.
asserted
lot → talk → ACL
Potential return date: December
Conor Bradley
Liverpool are currently short at right-back, with Frimpong joined by Conor Bradley in the treatment room.
asserted
Frimpong → join → room
Bradley sustained a serious knee injury against Arsenal in January, and is now closing in on a return to action.
asserted
Bradley → sustain → action
Iraola’s latest comments were positive, indicating that Bradley will soon return to full training.
“[He is] doing very well,” Iraola shared recently.
asserted
Iraola → indicate → training
“I think [he is] in a good place.
asserted
he → think → place
“Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group.
asserted
Conor → train → group
“I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us."
asserted
Conor → think → us
A return following the November international break seems most likely.
asserted
return → follow → break
Potential return date: December
Hugo Ekitike
Another long-term absentee is Hugo Ekitike, with the French striker recovering from a torn Achilles suffered back in April.
asserted
striker → recover → April
Currently rehabbing after undergoing surgery, Iraola placed Ekitike’s timeline for a return behind Bradley.
asserted
Iraola → rehabbe → Bradley
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
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