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Liverpool is set to host Manchester United in a highly anticipated Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday.
Arne Slot's team has had a rough patch before the international break, suffering three consecutive losses. The Reds were defeated by Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and Chelsea - all within a week's span.
After a fortnight off, this weekend's match against United presents an ideal opportunity for the Reds to rebound and get back on the winning track, having triumphed in each of their five home matches this season. Slot will be keen that most of his squad return from international duty unscathed. The break has also provided some injured players with an opportunity to accelerate their recovery.
With that in mind, let's take a look at the latest injury updates from the Reds...
Ryan Gravenberch
The Dutch midfielder only played 45 minutes during the Netherlands' 4-0 victory over Finland at the weekend, with Ronald Koeman confirming that the player has been dealing with a hamstring issue. Gravenberch himself acknowledged that his substitution was a precautionary measure.
Potential return date: 19 October, vs Manchester United (H)
Ibrahima Konate
French center-back Konate was replaced during the Chelsea match after seeming to sustain an injury prior to the international break. Despite acknowledging he had a thigh problem, he chose to join up with the French national team.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt defender has since travelled back after failing to feature in France's 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan. Following his return to the Reds, Konate will undergo an assessment to determine whether he's ready to start against United this weekend.
Potential return date: Unknown
Alisson Becker
The Brazilian goalkeeper was withdrawn during Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, with Slot commenting that it was "never good" to witness a player hobble off in such fashion. Alisson was absent for his nation's clash with South Korea last week and also missed the encounter against Japan.
Given these circumstances, Slot remains doubtful about Alisson's availability for the United fixture. "It depends on how fast the recovery goes, so it's clear that he is not going to play for Brazil," Slot remarked following his team's loss to Chelsea.
"I will be surprised if he [Alisson] will be there for the first game after the international break. From there on things can go a bit faster or a bit slower. It's difficult to say the amount of days and weeks. For the upcoming games he will not be apart of us or the Brazil team."
Potential return date: Late October
Wataru Endo
Endo was absent from his international colleagues for friendlies against Paraguay and Brazil during the international break, with Japan issuing a confirmation statement last week. The extent of Endo's problem remains unclear, and he may be available for selection come Sunday.
Potential return date: October 19, vs Manchester United (H)
Giovanni Leoni
The Italian center-back faces approximately 12 months on the treatment table after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture during last month's Carabao Cup clash with Southampton.
"He's not in a good place, of course," Slot said. "He tore his ACL which means that he will be out for around a year. Being so young, coming to a new country, playing so well in your first game, it's very hard to take the positives. You always try to look at the positive side and that is that he is still so young. He still has so many years to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that."
Potential return date: Late 2026
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