Jurgen Klopp confirms injury to key Liverpool man ahead of Arsenal clash
will host their first fixture of 2024 this weekend when Liverpool travel to the Emirates for their mouthwatering third round FA Cup clash. The Gunners have won just one of their last five fixtures so their first performance of the year will be a big challenge as they look to get back on track.
Mikel Arteta has his own injury concerns following the news of Oleksandr Zinchenko’s ‘slight calf issue’ which ruled him out of their Premier League clash against Fulham. There is no return date set for the Ukrainian but his absence means Arsenal are without a natural option at left-back heading into the Liverpool game.
This will certainly be a worry for the Gunners but Jurgen Klopp has revealed a fitness blow of his own. During their New Year’s Day win over Newcastle United, Dominik Szoboszlai was substituted off after clutching his hamstring and the boss gave some context during his post match press conference.
“We wanted to take him off, that was the plan, but unfortunately it was somehow a minute late because in the last situation he felt the hamstring. Now we don’t know the extent of it, obviously, so we have to wait.”
Since his arrival in the summer, Szoboszlai has helped transform Liverpool’s midfield with his creative play and ability to bang in goals from long-range. The 23-year-old has featured in every Premier League match since joining the Reds and has become a mainstay in Klopp’s midfield.
His potential absence from the clash with Arsenal will certainly come as a blow and he joins the growing list of injured players, including Joël Matip, Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas. Klopp has fellow summer signings Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and even Harvey Elliott to call upon, but the lack of threat from Szoboszlai will certainly be a positive for Arsenal as they look to break Liverpool down on Sunday.
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