Liverpool Injury List: Reds Players Out, Potential Return Dates, Predicted Lineup for Next Game vs. Galatasaray

Anfield braces for a pivotal Champions League night on Wednesday as Liverpool attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Galatasaray in the second leg of their Round-of-16 tie. Manager Arne Slot’s squad, however, will be without several key names as injuries continue to bite at a critical stage of the campaign.

The Reds arrive at the contest on the back of a frustrating 1-1 draw with Tottenham that extended their winless run to three matches in all competitions. With only one victory in their last four outings, momentum is in short supply, yet the prospect of a European comeback offers a chance to reset the narrative.

Galatasaray, meanwhile, have shown vulnerability on the road this season, falling to Juventus in the playoff phase and slipping up at Konyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig. Liverpool will hope to exploit those away-day frailties, but Slot must first navigate a crowded treatment room.

Alexander Isak, the club-record summer arrival, has not featured since sustaining a broken leg while scoring against Tottenham on 23 December. The Sweden striker resumed outdoor training in late February but has yet to reintegrate with ball work. Slot confirmed the target is a return to full training in late March or early April, positioning the World Cup playoff semifinal on 26 March as a soft marker for Isak’s comeback. Match fitness will determine whether he features before the end of the domestic campaign.

Midfielder Wataru Endo faces an even longer lay-off. The Japan captain was stretchered off against Sunderland after requiring oxygen on the pitch, and Slot later described the issue as a “serious” left-foot or ankle complaint. Although the club has not specified the exact diagnosis, Virgil van Dijk indicated Endo’s injury mirrors the broken foot he himself suffered at Southampton. If confirmed, the 31-year-old could miss the remainder of the season but may return in time to prepare for this summer’s World Cup.

Defensive depth has been further eroded by Conor Bradley’s “significant” knee injury, sustained while clearing the ball into touch at the Emirates. Surgery was required after scans revealed bone and ligament damage, ruling the Northern Ireland international out for the rest of the campaign. Fellow full-back Leoni’s introduction to English football lasted only minutes: the Italian tore an ACL on debut against Southampton and has already undergone surgery, ending his first season on Merseyside before it began.

Stefan Bajcetic has yet to kick a ball this term after hamstring surgery in January. Slot remains cautious about the young midfielder’s rehabilitation, stressing that expectations must be managed despite hopes of a fresh start in 2025-26.

Between the posts, Slot must decide whether to stick with Giorgi Mamardashvili, who started the first leg in Istanbul, or recall Alisson Becker after the Brazilian recovered from the knock that kept him out of the trip to Turkey. The manager hinted that seniority and experience could win the day, citing last week’s high-profile errors involving reserve goalkeepers across European competition.

With a place in the quarterfinals hanging in the balance, Liverpool’s predicted XI versus Galatasaray is expected to feature Alisson’s return, a back four shorn of Bradley and Leoni, and a midfield anchored by the fit-again pair of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. Mohamed Salah, Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez should form the attacking trident as Slot’s side chase the goal that could ignite a faltering season.

Kick-off at Anfield is set for Wednesday, 18 March, with the winners advancing to face either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the last eight. Liverpool then return to Premier League action at Brighton on Saturday, 21 March, before an FA Cup sixth-round showdown with City on 4 April.

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