Mac Allister’s Absence and Recovery Journey

Liverpool’s midfield maestro, Alexis Mac Allister, faces a challenging period as he will miss the crucial top-of-the-table clash against Arsenal. The World Cup winner’s absence is a significant blow for the team, considering his recent form. Despite his injury, there’s a glimmer of hope for his return in the upcoming New Year’s Day game against Newcastle. Pep Lijnders, Liverpool’s assistant manager, shared an optimistic update: “It will go into the New Year but we play the first of January so we will see. Alexis is progressing well, he doesn’t have pain anymore, which is a good thing. It was worse than we first thought, but he is progressing well, no pain.”

Gravenberch’s Injury Scare and Rapid Recovery

In what comes as a sigh of relief for Liverpool fans, Ryan Gravenberch’s recent injury scare has been downplayed. The initial fears of a hamstring injury have been dispelled after scans revealed no significant damage. Lijnders expressed his relief, “It is good, it is not often you send a player to the scan and it comes back with nothing.” Gravenberch is expected to be out of action for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against West Ham but is likely to return to the squad soon.

Jota’s Anticipated Return to Action

Diogo Jota, Liverpool’s dynamic forward, is on the cusp of making a comeback after being sidelined since the draw against Manchester City. The Portugal international is gradually returning to fitness, engaging in ball work as part of his rehabilitation. Lijnders shared an update, saying, “He is doing ball work outside so he is getting better and better but always with the hamstrings you want to give it two or three days more but he is close.”

Concern for Young Talent Ben Doak

In a contrasting update, Ben Doak, Liverpool’s promising teenage winger, faces a setback with a torn meniscus requiring surgery. This injury means an extended period on the sidelines for the young talent.

Darwin Nunez’s Performance Beyond Goals

Despite a drought in scoring, striker Darwin Nunez has received praise for his overall contribution to the team. Lijnders emphasized the importance of Nunez’s role beyond just scoring goals. He stated, “Darwin is full of desire, you see that in each game and if you only judge players on goals, that would be so unfair. Darwin is playing a much better season that last year, the way he defends, he helps us a lot when we are deep and we can play with him as a reference. This guy is full of fire and that is what our stadium likes.”