Liverpool injury latest: Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai and more

Liverpool injury latest: Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai and more Liverpool Injury Update: Florian Wirtz Concern, Szoboszlai Return Timeline and Latest on Frimpong Liverpool swept Brighton aside with the sort of authority that leaves very little room for debate. The football was sharp, the control was there, and the result never felt in doubt for long. The problem, again, was what happened in between. Another injury, another key player, another selection headache for Andoni Iraola before a nasty run of fixtures. Florian Wirtz, signed for £100m, opened the scoring with a deflected effort and looked exactly what Liverpool paid for, clever between the lines, crisp in possession, and consistently involved. Then he went off in the second half after twisting an ankle. That is the part Liverpool could have done without. The schedule is not about to ease up either. Chelsea come next in the Carabao Cup last 16, then Arsenal, Fenerbahce and Crystal Palace before the November international break. That makes every injury more significant, and every recovery date more relevant. Here is where things stand across the squad. Photo: IMAGO Florian Wirtz Injury Latest Wirtz delivered an excellent hour against Brighton before the ankle issue cut his afternoon short. Liverpool will wait for the swelling to settle and for a clearer assessment, but the early indication is that this may not be serious. Iraola said after the game: “Unfortunately, he had to leave the pitch with a small twist of the ankle. It doesn’t look big, but we’ll see.” That is as sensible as it gets at this stage. There is no value in pretending certainty exists before checks are completed. The encouraging part is the tone. Iraola did not sound like a man expecting weeks without one of his main attacking players. If the ankle responds well, Wirtz could be back quickly. Chelsea at home is possible, Arsenal at home feels more realistic if Liverpool decide against taking any risk. Potential return date: October 28 vs Chelsea or November 1 vs Arsenal Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz Nearing Return Dominik Szoboszlai has been stuck in an annoying loop. He missed games with a hamstring problem, returned, then broke down again after barely half an hour against Brentford. That generally tells you everything, the injury was not fully gone, and Liverpool paid for pushing the timeline. He has since missed further matches, but the latest noises are positive. Iraola said: “Dom is going to be out this weekend, I don’t think he is far [away from a return] but he has not trained with the group still and also considering that the other day we started him and he had to go out. “He is in a good place, he is already training outside alone and is going to train with the group, but he is not ready for this one.” That points to Arsenal as the more likely comeback date. Chelsea might come too soon, especially given what happened last time Liverpool accelerated the process. Victor Munoz is in a similar bracket, though with less concern around the long term picture. His knee issue, described as a knock, has kept him out for more than a week. He managed to finish against Brentford, so this has never looked like a major structural problem, but it has clearly lingered enough to block his return. Iraola summed it up plainly before the Brighton match: “It was too early the other day against Villarreal, and I think it is going to be difficult [for Brighton] but I really don’t know.” That leaves the door open for Chelsea, with Arsenal another obvious target if Liverpool want to be cautious. Potential return dates: Szoboszlai, November 1 vs Arsenal. Munoz, October 28 vs Chelsea or November 1 vs Arsenal Jeremie Frimpong Faces Longer Absence Jeremie Frimpong’s situation looks more straightforward, and more frustrating. He came on against Brentford, lasted only minutes, and suffered another hamstring injury. Muscle problems have followed him too often and Liverpool now appear resigned to waiting until after the international break. Iraola said: “Jeremie Frimpong is obviously a new muscle injury and it happened, I think, in the second or third minute he was playing, difficult to predict and we will have to wait until he recovers. “But it’s going to be difficult, I think, before the [November international] break. We will try but it’s going to be difficult to have him.” There is no need to overcomplicate that. Liverpool will not see him before the break unless recovery moves unusually quickly, and there is no sign that is expected. Potential return date: November 22 vs Manchester United Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni Recovery Timelines Further down the injury list, Liverpool have three longer term cases moving gradually in the right direction. Hugo Ekitike has been out since tearing his Achilles tendon in April. That sort of injury is serious, the rehab is long, and the sensible approach is patience. The good news is that he is progressing as planned. Iraola said the forward is “doing very well. Hugo is a little bit behind (Conor Bradley’s return timeline) but that was always the plan.” Bradley himself is edging closer after the serious knee injury he suffered against Arsenal in January. He has yet to feature this season, but Liverpool clearly see him entering the next phase of recovery. Iraola explained: “[He is] doing very well. “I think [he is] in a good place. Conor is not so far from training with the group, not like full training but doing some things with the group. “I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us.” That suggests Liverpool are planning for a post international break return, with Manchester United at Anfield a realistic date if everything continues normally. Then there is Giovanni Leoni, whose luck has been dreadful. Tearing an ACL on your Liverpool debut is brutal, full stop. His recovery has also run about a month behind schedule, though the target remains a return to team training after the November break and competitive action before the end of the year. Potential return dates: Bradley, November 22 vs Manchester United. Ekitike, November or December. Leoni, December For now, the headline remains Wirtz. Liverpool were excellent against Brighton, but in this period results and availability are tied together. If Wirtz has avoided anything serious, the weekend may end up looking very good indeed. If not, the fixture list will start to feel heavier very quickly.