Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp has pushed back against claims of hastiness in recent player returns, following setbacks for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Alexander-Arnold’s recurrence of a knee issue in last week’s match against Burnley means he will miss the Carabao Cup final later this month. Thiago’s comeback lasted a mere 10 minutes after nine months out, while Szoboszlai’s return saw him sidelined again with a hamstring problem, having played just over an hour across two matches.
Mohamed Salah’s return to training after a hamstring issue sustained during the 2023 African Nations Cup has Klopp confident in his readiness to play again.
Addressing concerns, Klopp stated, “I have to clarify: I was not aware, but there was discussion that we might have rushed Trent back. He had two setbacks, which is unfortunate, and no one wants that.”
He emphasized Liverpool’s approach to player fitness, explaining, “We never force anyone back and never will. But in a high-performance environment, recovery times vary. We aim to return players at the earliest safe moment.”
Klopp highlighted the unpredictability of injuries, stating, “We can never know if it would have happened anyway or if it was related to previous issues. It’s not a reflection of anyone’s quality.”
Regarding the seriousness of injuries, Klopp mentioned that Alexander-Arnold and Szoboszlai face significant setbacks, with only Szoboszlai having a slim chance of making the cup final.
Looking ahead, Klopp noted the importance of upcoming fixtures against Brentford and Luton before the cup final, emphasizing the need for cautious player management.
In a positive update, Klopp mentioned the return of several players, including Salah, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, Alisson Becker, and Conor Bradley, providing a boost to the squad’s depth.
