Nuñez, Robertson, Alisson: Liverpool injuries, suspensions and potential return dates vs. Bologna | OneFootball

Liverpool welcome Italian side Bologna to Anfield in the Champions League on Wednesday night in the second league stage match of the season.

After a welcome 3-1 win over Milan last time out Liverpool will look to work through some of the issues that they came up against in the weekend’s 2-1 victory over Wolves. Bologna have a point in the competition following a 0-0 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk and will be wanting their undefeated streak to continue.

Arne Slot has practically a full squad at his disposal but there are still some question marks.

Darwin Nuñez

Reason: Illness

The Uruguayan striker was an unexpected scratch from the squad that faced Wolves, with it being revealed that he was battling an illness.

The striker found his first goal of the season the previous weekend: a stunning strike from the right side of the box off the far post. He was clearly overwhelmed with emotion in the aftermath, breaking a 14-game drought for the Reds. He then played a full 90 against West Ham in the League Cup, so his absence was a bit of a shock.

With the severity of the illness unknown, we would probably expect to see Darwin at least in the matchday squad on Wednesday night. Even if Arne Slot does want to rotate, the striker remaining on the bench wouldn’t be too surprised given this.

Potential return date: 2nd October 2024 (Liverpool vs. Bologna)

Andy Robertson

Reason: Knock

Robertson being substituted with an apparent problem late on against Wolves at the weekend left Reds wondering just how much of a concern this was going to be. Thankfully, manager Arne Slot downplayed the situation.

"I don't expect this to be a big problem, although you never know, but I think he just got a knock," Slot said, "End phase of the game, maybe he was a bit tired as well because the guy who came in - Forbs, I knew him, of course, from the Dutch competition - he made it a real fight for him.

"He got a bit of a knock but I'm expecting him to be in training on Monday again, but let's wait [and see]."

Slot has shown a willingness to rotate Kostas Tsimikas into left-back, notably against AC Milan in the first Champions League game, so this is definitely a possibility.

Potential return date: 2nd October 2024 (Liverpool vs. Bologna)

Harvey Elliott

Reason: Fractured foot

Arne Slot himself admitted that the youngster would have seen some significant game time over the current period before his injury suffered in the England Under-21’s setup.

As such, this was probably a game he could have expected to be depended upon for, given a desire to rotate and Bologna’s willingness to sit behind the ball if the game is breaking in a fortuitous way for them.

The injury is expected to not be too severe however, and Elliott is targeting the end of the upcoming international break for a return.

Potential return date: 20th October 2024 (Liverpool vs. Chelsea)

Alisson Becker

Reason: Muscle injury

Alisson was absent from the previous two games before this weekend’s visit to Wolverhampton. Irish international Caoimhin Kelleher stepped in as he did last season and played as well as we’ve ever seen of him in Red.

The Brazilian returned at the weekend, however, seeing out the full 90 as Liverpool went top of the table. Whilst he would be expected to keep his place, any potential flare up or wish to be conservative by Arne Slot could see Kelleher take his place.

Potential return date: 2nd October 2024 (Liverpool vs. Bologna)

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