Liverpool will attempt to round off an incredible first half to the season on Sunday when they travel to West Ham United. The Reds will go into the game top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League and in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

That is the result of a remarkable return of 22 wins, three draws and just one defeat from their opening 26 matches of the campaign across all competitions.

And what makes that all the more impressive is the fact that new head coach Arne Slot has had to operate without some important players during his opening months in charge.

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But as the Reds boss and his in-form side get set to sign off for 2024 with the trip to the London Stadium, the injury and suspension situation at the AXA Training Centre is clearing up, which is unlike their opponents West Ham.

So ahead of the game, here is a here is a look at who will not be available for Liverpool against the Hammers...

Ibrahima Konate

Injury: Knee

Ibrahima Konate took a heavy knock to his knee in a challenge by Real Madrid substitute Endrick in the last action of the Champions League match at Anfield on November 27 and required lengthy treatment after the final whistle before limping off. The France international centre-back was then spotted on crutches the following weekend.

However, it appears Konate is closing in on a return. He was spotted at the Boxing Day home win over Leicester City in good spirits and no longer wearing a knee brace.

And after the game, Reds boss Slot said that while the defender will play no part against West Ham, he is getting closer to returning to training.

Possible return date: Accrington Stanley (H), FA Cup, January 11

Conor Bradley

Injury: Hamstring

Conor Bradley was forced off with a few minutes remaining against Real Madrid with a hamstring injury.

Slot has never put a timeframe on the Northern Ireland international right-back's return but a report in his homeland suggested he could be out for six weeks, which would sideline him until January 8.

Like Konate, Bradley has not returned to training, but their manager has hinted the pair could come into contention for the big Premier League showdown at home to Manchester United on January 5.

"They will not be back for West Ham United," Slot said of Bradley and Konate. "Then there is a week in between. Let's see how close they are then. It is difficult to tell you at this moment because they don't train with the group yet.

"Hopefully, in the upcoming days they come closer to that situation. But then again, Ibou has been out for five or six weeks maybe, Conor just as long and they are in competition with players who are completely fit and doing really well so I have to make the right judgement the moment they are back."

With that in mind, perhaps the clash with United, and the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Tottenham Hotspur on January 8, could be too big a games to throw Bradley and Konate into.

Possible return date: Accrington Stanley (H), FA Cup, January 11

Dominik Szoboszlai

Suspension: One match

Dominik Szoboszlai will sit out the West Ham encounter after being booked in the 3-1 victory over Leicester.

It was the Hungary international midfielder's fifth yellow card of the league campaign, triggering an automatic one-match ban.

Konate, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch all have four bookings for the season and, while the former will not feature on Sunday, the others will have to walk a disciplinary tightrope against the Hammers.

That's because players who accrue five bookings inside the opening 19 Premier League games are handed a one-match ban. The amnesty then changes to a two-game suspension for reaching 10 bookings after 32 matches, and a three-game ban for totalling 15 at any point in the campaign.

The match with West Ham is Liverpool's 18th Premier League fixture.

Definite return date: Manchester United (H), Premier League, January 5