Salah, Darwin & Robertson: Liverpool injury news and return dates ahead of Nottingham Forest match

With the EFL Cup in the bag and an FA Cup fifth-round tie against Southampton successfully negotiated, Liverpool are back in Premier League action this weekend when they travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon – but how many of their players will actually be available?

‘Klopp’s Kids’ shone against Chelsea and Southampton but young starlets like midweek hero Jayden Danns were only called upon because of a lengthy injury list which has included key players like Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Meanwhile, Ryan Gravenberch and Andrew Robertson have become the latest senior players to become fitness concerns for Jürgen Klopp and in total there are no fewer than 14 players who are either out or doubtful this weekend. So how many will be back on the field against Forest? We’ve collected all of the latest injury news, updates and expected return dates ahead of Saturday’s match below.

Mohamed Salah

Salah has missed the last three matches after aggravating the hamstring injury that he sustained during Egypt’s Africa Cup of Nations game while making his comeback against Brentford. Salah, along with striker Darwin, was described as “touch and go” for the Southampton match – which both eventually missed. The winger is close to a return, but Klopp has since said that he will not play against Nottingham Forest.

Darwin Núñez

The Uruguayan striker also missed the last three games after being withdrawn at half-time against Brentford as a “precaution”. Clearly, the injury was more serious than first thought but no details of the nature of the injury have been made public – it is presumed to be a muscle strain in the leg. Like Salah, he is doubtful for the game against Forest but has every chance of playing.

Andrew Robertson

Both Scotland full-back Robertson and World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister came down with an illness following the EFL Cup final win, and although the Argentine was back in the squad as a substitute for the Southampton game, Robertson remained absent. No further details of his recovery have been made public, so he must go down as a doubt, but his illness is not believed to be serious.

Ryan Gravenberch

Gravenberch was taken off the field at Wembley after finding himself on the receiving end of a badly-timed (and strangely unpunished) challenge from Moisés Caicedo – Klopp has since revealed that the young Dutchman suffered ankle ligament damage and will miss the game against Forest. Klopp only added “we’ll see” when asked about his availability thereafter, but he is expected to be out for at least another couple of weeks given the nature of the injury. Mid-to-late March is the most optimistic plausible return date.

Alisson

The hamstring injury that has sidelined Alisson since the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal remains an issue, and Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders recently said that his recovery “will really take time”. He is now not expected to return until early April, giving Caoimhín Kelleher some more time in the shop window before the summer.

Diogo Jota

Liverpool have admitted that they don’t have an exact timeframe for the Portuguese forward’s return after he suffered medial ligament damage during the game against Brentford. He will certainly be out of action until after the international break, with some concern that he may not play again this season.

Curtis Jones

Yet another victim of the costly victory at Brentford, Jones was pictured leaving the stadium on crutches after being forced from the field with an ankle ligament injury in the first half. He will not play until after the international break, with the match against Brighton & Hove Albion on 31 March the earliest plausible date for a comeback.

Wataru Endo

The Japan midfielder suffered a “proper knock” to his ankle during the EFL Cup final and missed the win over Southampton as a result. He was seen wearing a protective boot in the aftermath of the match at Wembley and is a strong doubt for the trip to the Midlands this weekend, but isn’t expected to be out for a great length of time.

Dominik Szoboszlai

The Hungarian playmaker has been dogged by a hamstring problem throughout 2024 and hasn’t featured since the 4-1 win over Chelsea back in January. Klopp has suggested that he is close to a return but has stopped short of suggesting he will be able to play against Forest. Like Endo, a very strong doubt but should be back in the near future.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

The England international will not play until after the end of the international break following a knee injury sustained in the win over Burnley earlier in February. No exact return date has been set but Conor Bradley will continue to deputise until at least the end of March.

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, 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 may not play against this season thanks to a second consecutive serious injury. Having missed nine months of football after surgery on a hip injury, 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 set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a torn lateral meniscus in his knee in December. The typical recovery period after such surgery is three to six months, meaning he is unlikely to return before the end of March and may not feature again this season.

Stefan Bajčetić

Having had a big impact in his breakthrough season last year, the teenage Spanish midfielder has endured a torrid second campaign and has yet to play thanks to a persistent calf problem. He has since been pictured in training gear as he continues his rehabilitation, but a comeback is not believed to be imminent. No return date has been set by the club.