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Liverpoolvs.Atalanta

sportsmole.co.uk, 8 April 2024, 06:54
Facing the toughest examination of their Europa League credentials yet, Liverpool welcome Serie A giants Atalanta BC to Anfield for the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday.

After topping their group without too much trouble, Jurgen Klopp's men tore Sparta Prague to shreds in the last 16, recording a 5-1 win away from home and a 6-1 crushing on Merseyside for an 11-2 aggregate triumph.

However, Liverpool have now ceded control of the Premier League title race over to Arsenal owing to their 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Sunday, although only goal difference is keeping them below the Gunners in the table.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their showdown with Atalanta, who edged out Sporting Lisbon 3-2 over two legs to make the last eight.

Diogo Jota

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: April 14 (vs. Crystal Palace)

Diogo Jota was sorely missed during Liverpool's showdown with Man United, and while he is expected to rejoin partial team training this week, Thursday's first leg is expected to come too soon for him.

Alisson Becker

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: April 14 (vs. Crystal Palace)

Hamstring victim Alisson Becker is in exactly the same boat as Jota, and even though he will take his seat on the sidelines for the visit of Atalanta, he could be in line for a comeback in the weekend's Premier League showdown with Crystal Palace.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: April 14 (vs. Crystal Palace)

Trent Alexander-Arnold is in the latter stages of his rehabilitation from his second knee injury of the year, and as is the case with Alisson and Jota, a return on Sunday is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Thiago Alcantara

Status: Out

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date: Unknown

After a 10-month absence with a hip injury, Thiago Alcantara's brief comeback appearance against Arsenal ended in more agony due to a muscular problem, which may rule the Spaniard out for the rest of the season.

Ben Doak

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Teenage attacker Ben Doak is yet to make his first appearance of 2024 due to a knee injury he picked up while playing for the Under-21s, and updates on his condition have been scarce, but a return before the end of the season is believed to be unlikely.

Joel Matip

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Joel Matip's season is over due to the ACL injury he sustained in December's showdown with Fulham, and as his contract expires in the summer, the Cameroonian could have been seen in Liverpool colours for the final time.

Stefan Bajcetic

Status: Out

Type of injury: Calf

Possible return date: April 27 (vs. West Ham United)

Stefan Bajcetic is finally closing in on a comeback after months out with a calf injury, and he is expected to return to first-team training at some point this week ahead of a possible competitive comeback later on this month.

LIVERPOOL'S SUSPENSION LIST

Liverpool have no players suspended or close to suspension, as none of Klopp's troops have picked up more than one yellow card in the current Europa League campaign.

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