Liverpool injury latest as 9 players now on Arne Slot's growing list

Liverpool was dealt a fresh injury blow during the Merseyside Derby win over Everton, with Arne Slot confirming the Reds could be without up to nine players for the upcoming Crystal Palace clash at Anfield

Arne Slot is facing an injury crisis(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool's injury concerns continue to mount following yet another setback sustained during Sunday's Premier League victory over Everton.

Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was forced off in the second half of the Merseyside Derby. Freddie Woodman, who started the campaign as Liverpool's third-choice stopper, stepped in as his replacement. At that point, the scoreline stood at 1-1, before Virgil van Dijk's 100th-minute winner handed the Reds a vital three points in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Arne Slot's men return to action on Saturday when they welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield. They enter the fixture sitting fifth in the Premier League standings, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea.

Ahead of the encounter, Liverpool must contend with what appears to be an ever-lengthening injury list, with the Reds potentially missing as many as nine players. Here's the very latest from the treatment room...

Giorgi Mamardashvili

The Georgian shot-stopper was withdrawn during the second half of the Merseyside Derby after picking up a knock during Everton's equalizing goal. Slot confirmed after the final whistle that the keeper had been taken to the hospital, though the injury is not expected to sideline him for an extended period.

"He has gone off to hospital," he said. "It looked to me, and that's also what they told me, that he had a big wound – an open wound. That's, of course, not going to be a long-term injury. Let's see if he is available for next week. We've had almost in all positions our problems and now even two goalkeepers being out.

Giorgi Mamardashvili suffered a nasty injury at the weekend(Image: Getty Images)

"So it's a good thing that we have three goalkeepers, because we usually don't have three full-backs or three No.9s or three left wingers, and now it happens in a position where we have three players."

The Athletic reports that Mamardashvili is anticipated to be sidelined for "at least a fortnight" with the injury.

Hugo Ekitike

The striker was withdrawn during the opening half of last week's Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain. The club has subsequently confirmed that he will be absent for the rest of the campaign, having sustained an Achilles tendon rupture. "He hasn't been operated on yet," Slot said. "Devastating for him coming to a new club and having so much impact straight away."

Alisson Becker

The goalkeeper's campaign has been disrupted by a hamstring problem. He experienced a recurrence in March. Slot has provided a vague indication of when Alisson might return to action. "Towards the end of the season, we expect him to be fit," he said.

Alisson himself has nevertheless offered a more positive outlook. "I didn't suffer a new injury," he wrote on X. "I'm in the treatment phase, and the plan is to be in full playing condition by the end of April!"

Joe Gomez

The defender was withdrawn against PSG last week, having come on at the interval. The exact issue is unknown, but Slot confirmed he wouldn't be available for the clash against Everton.

Wataru Endo

Endo has been sidelined since February, sustaining an ankle injury in the Premier League fixture against Sunderland. He has subsequently had an operation and is progressing through his rehabilitation.

He has established his own personal timeline for his comeback. Speaking at the beginning of the month, he said: "I'm hoping to play in the World Cup. My target is the last weekend of May - the national team has a game then (against Iceland on May 31) or we have a Champions League final! I hope we can make it. At least I have something to achieve - I'm motivated by that."

Giovani Leoni

The young center-back sustained an ACL injury on his debut appearance in the Carabao Cup encounter with Southampton. He has since had an operation and is progressing with his rehabilitation, aiming to return at the beginning of next season.

Stefan Bajcetic

A long-standing absentee, the midfielder is yet to feature at all this campaign. Speaking back in January, Slot said: "He's not training yet. So, he constantly gets close to the team, and then he has a little setback, and then comes close and has a little setback, so we're hoping and expecting to have him very soon, again.

"But at that moment of time, he trains with us again, then he's been out for six, seven, eight months [with] no first-team training. So, as much as I'd like to have him back, we have to manage the expectations with him as well."

Jayden Danns

The youngster has been sidelined since sustaining an injury during an U21 fixture against Manchester City back in March.

Providing an update, Slot said: "The good thing for him is that he's been out for such a long time and he's now getting back with the U21s, getting some playing time. But I think there's still a lot of steps to be made if you've not even played 90 minutes [for] the U21s, let alone then play a Premier League game.

"But the first thing that comes to my mind is that he's worked so hard – I know this because I've seen him around over here a lot – to be where he is now, and he's also been so unlucky to be out for such a long time. I really like him to be back, but the reality is that he's not on the bench for us this weekend."

Conor Bradley

The full-back faces an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury in January. Having undergone surgery, he is now progressing through his rehabilitation program.