Liverpool may be missing seven players against Everton as Alexis Mac Allister faces two-match suspension

Liverpool will be missing several players due to injury and suspension for Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Everton.

Arne Slot has confirmed that Alexis Mac Allister is the latest addition to Liverpool’s injury list, as the Argentina international faces two one-match suspensions in both the Premier League and Champions League. As a result, he will miss both the trip to Everton and the game at Girona.

With Mac Allister’s absence, the Reds could be without as many as seven players when they make their way across Stanley Park. However, Federico Chiesa is nearing a return to the first team after scoring for the Under-21s during the week.

Liverpool is particularly stretched in defense, with only five defenders available. Slot was forced to play Jarell Quansah at right-back during Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle while managing Trent Alexander-Arnold carefully due to a hamstring issue.

Given that the Newcastle game marks the start of nine matches in 32 days for Liverpool, the ECHO takes a closer look at the players who could be absent for the first Merseyside derby of the season:

Alexis Mac Allister
Mac Allister will miss Liverpool’s next two matches due to suspension. He was booked in the 3-3 draw with Newcastle and will sit out the Merseyside derby after receiving his fifth yellow card of the Premier League campaign. The standard punishment is a one-game suspension, but the midfielder will also miss next week’s Champions League trip to Girona after earning a third European yellow card against Real Madrid.

Mac Allister has received eight yellow cards in 21 appearances for Liverpool this season. Expressing his disappointment after the Newcastle match, he shared on social media: “So sad to be suspended for the Merseyside Derby, a huge game, for a yellow that I don’t think I deserved. Time to support the boys from outside, come on Liverpool.”

Alisson Becker
Alisson is nearing a return after suffering a hamstring injury at Crystal Palace in early October. He recently explained why his recovery had taken longer than expected. Slot has confirmed that Alisson will return as the first-choice goalkeeper when fully fit, despite Caoimhin Kelleher’s impressive performances. The Brazilian has been seen training individually during the November international break, but a specific return date is yet to be determined. Slot expects him to be back in goal before the end of the month.

At his pre-match press conference before facing Newcastle, Slot said: “We are just waiting for the moment that Alisson is completely fit because Caoimh is doing too well to put Alisson in goal if he is only on 50 per cent [fitness] and that would not be good for Alisson and not be good for the team. He’s getting there. It might take a few more extra days but he’s getting closer and closer and like I’ve always said the end phase of rehab is always the period where you feel like, ‘OK, is he really there or does he need a few extra days?’ But he will be in goal before the end of December if things continue like they are.”

Federico Chiesa
Chiesa, who has not played for Liverpool since his debut against West Ham United in the League Cup in September, is nearing a comeback after rejoining team training. The forward has gradually integrated into full team sessions over the past two weeks. Slot confirmed that Chiesa “is getting back” ahead of the Newcastle match. He did not play in the 3-3 draw but appeared for the Under-21s against FC Nordsjaelland, scoring in a 4-3 loss. It remains unclear whether he will be fit for Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

Diogo Jota
Jota has been absent since sustaining an upper body injury in the first half of the match against Chelsea after the October international break. Slot had initially expected the Portuguese forward to return in December and confirmed he would miss both the Real Madrid and Manchester City fixtures. Jota was seen training after the November international break but is not yet fully integrated into team sessions. While he is approaching a return, it is unlikely he will be fit in time for the Newcastle match.

Conor Bradley

Bradley suffered a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s Champions League match against Real Madrid and has been ruled out for a “few weeks.” Slot confirmed that Bradley, along with Ibrahima Konaté and Kostas Tsimikas, is expected to return by January at the latest.

Ibrahima Konaté
Konaté injured his knee during Liverpool’s win over Real Madrid and later confirmed on social media that he would be sidelined for a period. He missed the victory over Manchester City and was seen on crutches at Anfield. Slot has since stated that the Frenchman will be out for “a few weeks” but should return in January.

Kostas Tsimikas
Tsimikas sustained an ankle injury in training last month and was spotted on crutches with a protective boot before the match against Manchester City. Like Konaté and Bradley, Tsimikas is expected to be back in action by January at the latest.