Jota, Bradley & Bajčetić: Liverpool injury news and return dates ahead of West Ham clash

A devastating defeat in the Merseyside Derby may have derailed Liverpool’s push for the Premier League title, but they aren’t out of the race just yet – and they will look to get their challenge back on track when they take on West Ham United at the London Stadium in Saturday’s early kick-off.

They’ll have to get by without several first-team players, however, with winger Diogo Jota the latest starter to be added to the injury report – he will be one of at least five players absent for this weekend’s game.

We’ve collected all the latest injury news and updates ahead of that match below, along with everything we know about the missing players’ likely return dates:

Diogo Jota

The Portuguese forward made his first start in two months against Fulham last weekend, scoring Liverpool’s third goal in the process, but unfortunately he picked up a fresh injury and was ruled out of the game at Goodison Park.

The problem is related to his hip and is expected to keep him out of action for two weeks, according to outgoing manager Jürgen Klopp. That rules him out of the West Ham game and makes him a doubt for the match against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend as well, but he should be available after that.

Conor Bradley

The young Northern Irish full-back shone while deputising for Trent Alexander-Arnold but the latter’s return from injury has unfortunately coincided with a fitness problem for Bradley – an ankle injury sustained in the surprise defeat to Crystal Palace has kept him out the last two games and he won’t be ready for this weekend either.

As with Jota, he is expected to be missing for at least another week and could be available to face Spurs, but the match against Aston Villa on 13th May is a more realistic return date.

Stefan Bajčetić

The 19-year-old midfielder hasn’t played since September due to a serious calf injury but has been back in training since February and finally returned to action on Monday with Liverpool’s Under-21s team, starting in a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland before being substituted.

It’s unlikely he’ll be rushed back into first-team action and there are no indications he will feature on Saturday, but he is making strong progress in his recovery and could well play before the end of the season, at least.

Joël Matip

The veteran Cameroonian defender will not play again this season thanks to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained in the 4-3 win over Fulham back at the beginning of December, and may have played his last game for Liverpool given that his contract is up at the end of the season.

Thiago Alcântra

The unfortunate Spaniard almost certainly won’t play again this season thanks to a second consecutive serious injury. Having missed nine months of football after surgery on a hip problem, he made a five-minute comeback against Arsenal before suffering a serious hamstring injury. Like Matip, his contract finishes at the end of the season, and there is real fear that his cameo against the Gunners will prove to be his farewell.

Ben Doak

The talented young winger is enduring a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a torn lateral meniscus in his knee in December. The Scotsman is not expected to feature again this season, although he has been spotted back in athletic training with the reserve squad, which suggests that he’s making good progress in his recovery.