Liverpool team news: Injury, suspension list vs. Sparta Prague

Jurgen Klopp's outfit bypassed the knockout round playoffs courtesy of a first-placed finish in Group E, posting 12 points from a possible 18 against Toulouse, Union SG and LASK Linz.

Since their most recent European encounter, the quadruple-chasing Reds have marched to EFL Cup glory, reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and maintained their slender lead at the Premier League summit thanks to a last-gasp 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their first leg with Sparta Prague, who overcame Galatasaray 6-4 on aggregate in the playoff round.

Ryan Gravenberch

Status: Out

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: Unknown

Ryan Gravenberch's EFL Cup final ended in despair as the Dutchman was stretchered off the field in the first half, having hurt his ankle due to a challenge from Chelsea's Moises Caicedo. There is still no official timeframe on his recovery from those damaged ligaments, but he is not expected to be fit for the first leg.

Mohamed Salah

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: March 10 (vs. Manchester City)

Mohamed Salah - whom Liverpool have asked Egypt to omit from March's international squad - was not ready to return from his latest thigh problem in time for the trip to Forest, although Klopp is optimistic that he will be back in training at some point this week. The winger may therefore be match ready for Thursday night, but he will surely be wrapped in cotton wool for the weekend's crunch top-flight battle with Manchester City.

Diogo Jota

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Diogo Jota suffered a knee ligament injury during Liverpool's 4-1 victory at Brentford last month, and the Portuguese is facing a recovery time of around two months, ruling him out until the middle of April at least.

Curtis Jones

Status: Out

Type of injury: Shin

Possible return date: March 10 (vs. Manchester City)

Curtis Jones sustained a shin issue in that same game at the Gtech Community Stadium, although he is in with a slight chance of returning against the Citizens before club teams break up for the international period.

Alisson Becker

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: March 31 (vs. Brighton & Hove Albion)

Liverpool will return to Europa League duty without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, whose hamstring injury will take at least another few weeks to heal, but Caoimhin Kelleher has more than stepped up to the plate in the Brazilian's absence.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: March 31 (vs. Brighton & Hove Albion)

Trent Alexander-Arnold is still on the mend from his second knee injury of the year, and as is the case with Alisson, the right-back will only return by the end of the month in the best-case scenario.

Thiago Alcantara

Status: Out

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date: Unknown

After a 10-month absence with a hip injury, Thiago Alcantara sustained a gut-wrenching muscle problem during his comeback appearance against Arsenal on February 4, and Klopp is fearing that the Spaniard may not be available for the rest of the campaign.

Ben Doak

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Young winger Ben Doak would have been hopeful of earning precious first-team minutes on Thursday, but the former Celtic attacker is nursing a serious knee injury and will be missing for the foreseeable.

Joel Matip

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Similarly, Joel Matip is months away from returning from the ACL injury he picked up against Fulham in December, meaning that he has played his last game for the club unless his contract is extended beyond the end of the campaign.

Stefan Bajcetic

Status: Out

Type of injury: Calf

Possible return date: Unknown

Stefan Bajcetic is in the final stages of his recovery from a calf injury and is being put through his paces in training, but he is yet to be signed off for a competitive return, and there is no indication when he might be back in action.

LIVERPOOL'S SUSPENSION LIST

Liverpool have no players suspended for the first leg.