Liverpool injury & suspension updates after Tottenham defeat
Liverpool's highly controversial, last-gasp defeat to Tottenham was a demoralising affair for Jurgen Klopp and his men.
As well as the ongoing VAR debacle, the game left the Reds with several fresh availability concerns ahead of a return to Europa League action against in-form Union Saint-Gilloise and a tricky trip to Brighton in the Premier League before the next international break.
READ MORE: Liverpool's October fixtures assessed
Here is everything you need to know about the latest injury and suspension updates in the Liverpool squad.
Cody Gakpo
The Dutch forward left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a leg brace, having been withdrawn at half time due to an injury.
Speaking after the match, Jurgen Klopp appeared concerned about Gakpo's fitness.
The manager said: “[It was] the biggest problem of the game, to be honest... before Cody Gakpo scored, we got a free-kick and he got injured and he is now with a brace limping down the corridor.
“That's my biggest problem, to be honest, in this moment. We lost two [to red cards] and maybe a third player - really bad, really bad. So, yes, that's something we have to deal with obviously.”
Liverpool now wait on the results on a scan to assess the extent of the damage, while there has been speculation that the 24-year-old could be facing a six-week layoff.
Return date: unknown
Thiago Alcantara
Liverpool's veteran playmaker has not played a minute in 2023/24 and last started in the Premier League back in February.
There has been no timeframe put on Thiago's return, with the midfielder apparently still struggling to shake off the hip injury he has been carrying for some months.
Return date: unknown
Stefan Bajcetic
18-year-old Bajcetic made his return from the adductor injury that ended his 2022/23 campaign back in March with a start against LASK in the Europa League.
He then followed that up with an appearance from the bench against Leicester in the Carabao Cup. However, after that outing Klopp admitted the midfielder had suffered a 'setback'
He said: "Stefan had a little, little setback. The problem with Stefan is I can imagine everyone wants to see him play more – I want – but we have to be really careful. And now it's a little, little, little tiny calf issue. That's how it is when you are six months out.
"And we try everything to get him up to speed without pushing him. We make a very specific plan for him but in the end it's disappointing for him, of course, but for us as well that he got another one. So we have to take him out a little bit. He can work on pretty much everything else but not playing. That's it, I would say."
Return date: unknown
Curtis Jones
Jones' VAR-reviewed sending off in the highly controversial defeat to Spurs on Saturday means the midfielder will serve a three-match ban as is the standard punishment for 'serious foul play'.
Liverpool do have the option to appeal the decision, but face adding to Jones' ban if the appeal is deemed frivolous.
As it stands, Jones will miss Liverpool's clashes with Brighton (a), Everton (h) and Nottingham Forest (h) this month.
Return date: 1/11
Diogo Jota
Jota received two yellows in the space of two minutes, which saw Liverpool reduced to nine men in the second half against Spurs – though it's highly questionable as to whether the Portuguese forward even made contact with Destiny Udogie for the first booking.
Nevertheless, Liverpool aren't in a position to appeal Jota's dismissal as it came as a result of two bookings rather than a straight red and the Reds' number 20 Wolves will now miss one match as punishment – the trip to Brighton on Sunday, 8 October.
He will, at least, be back in contention for the Merseyside Derby which is Liverpool's next fixture, following the October international break.
Return date: 21/10