Ekitiké, Alisson, Isak & Salah: Latest Liverpool injury news and expected return dates

As we head into the international break, Liverpool may have more serious injury concerns than any other side competing at the top end of the table right now – with Hugo Ekitiké, Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker all dealing with fitness issues.

Ekitiké had to be substituted just a few minutes after kick-off against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, while Alisson was an unexpected absentee. Both now add their names to a list seven first-team players who are recovering from injuries and who could miss out when domestic football returns with an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City on 4 April.

With many of Arne Slot’s charges heading off on national duty, we’ve collected all of the latest Liverpool injury news below along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.

How serious are new injuries to Hugo Ekitiké & Alisson?

The disappointment of Liverpool’s away defeat to Brighton this weekend was compounded by concern over the fitness of summer signing Hugo Ekitiké, who went down with an apparent leg injury shortly after kick-off and was eventually replaced by Curtis Jones with just eight minutes on the clock.

Fortunately, the damage was not significant. Slot has confirmed that Ekitiké suffered a dead leg, adding that “I think he could play tomorrow if he needed to.” As it stands, he is still likely to link up with his international team-mates this week and is expected to be available for the Manchester City match next month.

There is rather more doubt surrounding Alisson Becker’s situation. The goalkeeper was omitted from the squad unexpectedly due to an undisclosed injury which was apparently sustained during the week. All that Slot has confirmed so far is that the 33-year-old had withdrawn from Brazil’s squad to face France and Croatia.

Alisson himself, however, took to Instagram to post a story which told supporters that “unfortunately, I’ll be out of action for a while.” There is still no timeline available, nor any information on the nature of the issue, but there seems to be a chance that Giorgio Mamardashvili will be between the sticks against Manchester City and perhaps for a while longer.

Will Mohamed Salah & Alexander Isak be back for Liverpool after the break?

Another key player who missed the Brighton match was winger Mohamed Salah, who was forced off during the second half of last week’s Champions League win over Galatasaray due to an unspecified muscle injury. He too has pulled out of international duty as a consequence.

Slot has suggested that his participation in the early April games against Manchester City and PSG may be in doubt, telling the press that “[Salah] has shown in the past that he can recover faster than other players might in similar situations because he takes such good care of his body… But it's only two weeks when we go again so let's hope in that period of time he can be back."

If Salah can play after the international break, then he is expected to be joined by record signing Alexander Isak, who is back in training for the first time since breaking his fibula in December. Isak has not been called up to Graham Potter’s Sweden squad but current indications are that he will be available next month.

Liverpool currently have three long-term injury victims who won’t be in the side against Manchester City in a couple of weeks: Wataru Endo (ankle) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) will both miss the rest of the season, while full-back Conor Bradley (knee) isn’t expected to play again until late 2026.