Liverpool will head into Saturday afternoon’s Premier League encounter against Crystal Palace without two key squad members, dealing manager Jürgen Klopp a significant setback as the season intensifies.
French forward Hugo Ekitike is suspended after receiving a red card in Liverpool’s last outing. His dismissal automatically rules him out of one match, meaning the Reds will have to do without his services at Selhurst Park. The suspension comes at a crucial time, as Liverpool are already grappling with defensive shortages.
Adding to their woes, Giovanni Leoni faces a long spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the midweek victory over Southampton. The highly-rated youngster has been ruled out for up to a year, a devastating blow both for him and the club’s defensive depth.
With Leoni out and Ekitike suspended, Liverpool’s defensive options are stretched thin. Only Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Joe Gomez remain available as senior defenders. Van Dijk and Konaté are expected to anchor the backline, while Gomez provides much-needed cover.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are battling their own fitness concerns. Several of their key players have been sidelined in recent weeks, including Ismaila Sarr, Yeremy Pino, Chadi Riad, Cheick Doucouré, Caleb Kporha, and goalkeeper Walter Benítez. While doubts remain over their availability, there is a glimmer of good news for Palace fans: Sarr, who missed the last two matches, and Pino, who suffered a knee injury against West Ham, have returned to training and could feature against Liverpool.
Saturday’s clash promises to be a test of depth and resilience for both teams, with the Reds fighting to keep momentum at the top end of the table and Palace eager to steady their campaign despite mounting injury concerns.
Report by: Gborogen Rejoice | Edited by: Chris Odjomah