Szoboszlai Injury, Salah & Ekitike: Liverpool News

Liverpool Secure Second Consecutive Clean Sheet Amidst Injury Concerns and Salah’s AFCON Departure

Liverpool concluded their week on a high note with a 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, marking a second successive clean sheet. However, the win was tempered by fresh injury setbacks and the impending absence of Mohamed Salah due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This report provides detailed Scout Notes from the match, analyzing key performances and potential implications for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers.

Szoboszlai and Gomez Suffer Injuries

The first blow of the day came with an injury to right-back Joe Gomez, a recurring concern for the defender. Starting his fourth Liverpool game within a fortnight, Gomez lasted less than 30 minutes before being forced off with a muscle injury. “If I have a player who goes off with a muscle injury like Joe, that’s normally not a positive thing,” a senior official stated. “I would not expect him to be in the squad next week [at Tottenham Hotspur]. But sometimes you get a positive surprise.” The manager acknowledged concerns about overplaying Gomez, adding, “People now maybe understand a bit better why I was always so cautious not to play him so many games.”

Dominik Szoboszlai was subsequently moved to right-back to cover for Gomez, a tactical shift that proved costly for the 220,000+ FPL managers who recently acquired the Hungarian midfielder. Szoboszlai himself then exited the field after 82 minutes, having received treatment earlier for what appeared to be an ankle injury. A social media post from Liverpool Zone captured the moment, showing Szoboszlai visibly in pain. “Dom, it was his ankle. It didn’t look great when I just saw him. But he has unbelievable mentality, so let’s hope for the best,” the manager commented after the match.

Ekitike Shines, But Cramp a Concern

Despite the injury woes, Hugo Ekitike continued his impressive form, scoring a brace to secure the victory. However, a late-game issue raised a minor concern. “Just before I took him off, there was a moment, I don’t know what happened, but I think he hardly could walk anymore because of cramp,” the manager explained.

Reinforcements on the Horizon: Frimpong and Bradley Return

Fortunately for the Liverpool camp, reinforcements are on their way. Conor Bradley is set to return from a one-match ban next week, while Jeremie Frimpong is nearing full recovery from injury. “The good thing is that Conor Bradley comes back from a suspension [next week] and normally Jeremie Frimpong will train with us also,” the manager confirmed.

Salah’s Brief Return and Imminent AFCON Departure

Mohamed Salah made a brief but impactful return to the squad, entering the game as a substitute after Gomez’s injury. The home crowd greeted his arrival with a rapturous reception. “I think actions speak louder than what has been said. He was in the squad again and when I had to make my first substitution, I brought him in and he performed as I think every fan – including me – would like him to perform today,” the manager stated, signaling a potential reconciliation. “I think he’s a Liverpool player and the moment he’s there I like to use him when we need him.”

Despite the positive performance, Salah is now set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations, potentially disrupting his FPL momentum. Playing alongside Ekitike in a new 4-4-2 diamond formation, he recorded his highest expected goal involvement (xGI) score of the season. He assisted Ekitike’s second goal with a corner, and despite missing an injury-time chance and being short-passed by Ekitike, he drew a save from Bart Verbruggen. However, a senior analyst noted that Salah should have provided a better pass to Virgil van Dijk during a late break. He also made more defensive contributions than in any match since Gameweek 1, completing his first tackle of the season.

Ekitike’s Continued Growth and Wirtz’s Potential

While Alexander Isak struggled, Ekitike continues to flourish, with two braces in as many Gameweeks bringing his Premier League goal tally to seven in 10 starts. His confidence is visibly growing, and with Liverpool’s limited squad depth and favorable upcoming fixtures, he is expected to receive ample playing time. “

Florian Wirtz is also steadily improving, although his contributions remain primarily focused on assists. He has yet to register a shot in the box in Liverpool’s last three competitive fixtures, but a shift to a more central role could unlock his goal-scoring potential.

Fortunate Clean Sheet, But Defensive Concerns Remain

Liverpool secured a clean sheet, but the manager acknowledged a degree of luck involved. “I think our players worked incredibly hard today to keep a clean sheet and for the first time in weeks – or maybe I should say months – we had a little bit of luck with that as well,” he conceded. “That’s funny, this is what people now say if you win 2-0 and then all of a sudden, ‘we were solid’. But I think we conceded in one game more than we did in the last four games.”

Brighton’s Diego Gomez had two significant chances, while Mats Wieffer, Yankuba Minteh, and Brajan Gruda also came close to scoring. Minteh provided the assist for Gomez’s first opportunity.

Brighton’s De Cuyper and Welbeck Sidelined, Suspensions Loom

Brighton’s popular FPL picks, Danny Welbeck and Maxim De Cuyper, were both substitutes due to fitness issues. “We had some small issues with Danny, we had issues with Maxim during the week. They weren’t able to train fully, that’s why we chose this starting XI,” a Brighton official explained. De Cuyper is expected to return in Gameweek 17, but will be without Diego Gomez, who received his fifth booking of the season. Lewis Dunk also picked up his fifth yellow card, resulting in a suspension. Kaoru Mitoma made his long-awaited return from injury, playing 30 minutes off the bench as he builds his match fitness.

The mounting injury list and Salah’s impending departure present significant challenges for Liverpool, but the return of Bradley and Frimpong offers a glimmer of hope as they navigate a crucial period of the season.