Liverpool Injury Updates: Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa’s status and expected return dates

Liverpool is set to rebound from their recent defeat to Nottingham Forest as they prepare for their Champions League match against AC Milan. The Reds are heading to Italy for their first group stage game of the restructured competition.

Arne Slot’s team enters the match following a disappointing 1-0 loss to Forest in the Premier League over the weekend. This setback ended Liverpool’s perfect start to the season, prompting them to refocus ahead of their European return.

On Tuesday night, Liverpool will visit the San Siro to compete against Milan in the Champions League. This will be Liverpool’s first game in the competition since April 2023 and their initial experience with the tournament’s new format.

This season, Liverpool will play eight group stage matches in the Champions League, beginning with this away fixture in Milan. They will also face RB Leipzig, Girona, and PSV Eindhoven away, while hosting Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bologna, and Lille at Anfield.

The ECHO has compiled the latest updates on Liverpool’s injury and fitness concerns leading up to the Champions League clash with AC Milan.

Harvey Elliott

Injury: Fractured foot

Harvey Elliott is sidelined due to a fractured foot sustained during international duty with the England Under-21s. He is expected to be out for up to six weeks, with a return not anticipated until after the October international break.

“Harvey is of course a big disappointment for him but also for us,” Slot said to reporters on September 13. “Okay, he didn’t play that much in the first three games but he played a lot in pre-season and showed himself really well. If he had stayed fit he would have had a lot of playing time in the upcoming fixtures, but now it gives a chance to someone else. It’s first and foremost a blow for himself but also for us, availability is important in the stage of the season when we play seven games in 22 days. He will work as hard as always to come back in the best possible way.”

Potential return date: Late October

Federico Chiesa

Injury: Lack of match fitness

Federico Chiesa, who joined Liverpool from Juventus last month, has not yet made his debut for the club but is not currently injured. The forward did not feature in the squads for the Premier League matches against Manchester United or Nottingham Forest.

During the international break, Chiesa focused on regaining his fitness and worked with the Liverpool Under-21 squad at the AXA Training Centre.

There is a chance Chiesa could make his long-awaited debut for Liverpool when the team travels to Italy to face Milan in the Champions League.