Liverpool injury update ahead of Premier League showdown with struggling Ipswich Town

Liverpool are back in action today as Ipswich Town visit Anfield, with the Reds aiming to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League on a busy matchday, as both Arsenal and Nottingham Forest play simultaneously.

Arne Slot has several options for the game, which falls between two crucial Champions League fixtures. After defeating Lille 2-1 at Anfield on Tuesday, Liverpool now need only a point at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday to secure first place in their group.

However, the Reds didn’t come through their match against Lille completely unscathed, as a new injury has emerged. Curtis Jones will now be sidelined after sustaining an injury in the first half of the game.

Jones was hurt just before half-time, and while he managed to play through it for the remainder of the half, he did not return for the second half. Slot confirmed on Friday that Jones wouldn’t be available for the Ipswich match and that his availability for the PSV clash or next weekend’s trip to Bournemouth is uncertain.

“He went off during half time which is mostly not a good sign and it wasn’t because he won’t be available for the game tomorrow,” Slot said. “The rest we have to see how long it will take. I am not expecting months, of course. Well not ‘of course’ but I am not predicting months, but let’s see if he can play against PSV or Bournemouth.”

Jones joins Joe Gomez and Diogo Jota on the injury list. Both players are expected to be out for “weeks rather than months,” but will certainly be unavailable in the near future.

Gomez has been sidelined since injuring his hamstring in the first half of the 5-0 win at West Ham United on December 29.

Jota, meanwhile, has missed recent games after suffering a muscle injury during his brief appearance in the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest last week. The Portuguese forward has already missed a significant portion of the season following an upper body injury sustained against Chelsea in late October.

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In a dramatic 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, Liverpool had to fight back after an early deficit, and the key to their second-half resurgence came from an inspired double substitution. The importance of Kostas Tsimikas and Diogo Jota‘s first touches in this match may not be fully realized until later in the season, but their impact was clear.

For now, Arne Slot will be left reflecting on several missed opportunities, as Forest goalkeeper Mats Sels was in outstanding form, denying Liverpool a crucial victory. Sels was superb, keeping out efforts from Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Jota, while Ola Aina also made a crucial clearance off the line. This resilience from Forest is exactly why they currently sit second in the league, showing their ability to withstand intense pressure from Liverpool’s attacking waves.

Though Forest may not challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title come May, their defense is proving formidable, and a top-four finish looks very attainable, especially with rivals like Chelsea and Manchester City faltering after their own 2-2 draws earlier this week. If Arne Slot truly believes those teams are still title contenders, then no ground was lost here for Liverpool.

In terms of defensive solidity, Forest certainly deserve recognition. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo were exceptional, exemplifying why Forest have conceded only 20 goals in 21 games—matching Liverpool‘s defensive record. Only Arsenal have conceded fewer.

From the outset, Liverpool controlled the game, dominating possession against a Forest side that opted to sit back rather than press. The hosts were content to invite Liverpool forward and defend deep, but, as in their previous meeting in September, a sharp counterattack caught Liverpool off guard. Chris Wood capitalized on the hosts’ first shot on target, finding the net after just eight minutes.