Liverpool injury update: Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Alisson and Curtis Jones latest news and return dates

Liverpool are battling a mounting injury crisis ahead of their looming Carabao Cup final showdown.

The Reds face Chelsea in the Wembley showpiece next weekend, before which they will look to strengthen their grip on top spot in the Premier League table once again with a rescheduled home clash against relegation-battlers Luton at Anfield on Wednesday night.

But Jurgen Klopp has been left counting the cost of Saturday’s trip to Brentford, where his side - who did at least have Mohamed Salah back in the fold - ran out comfortable 4-1 winners to maintain their title lead but saw Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones all suffer injuries to follow the surprise absence of Alisson Becker.

The key quartet have each now been added to an already lengthy list of Reds absentees that Klopp will be desperate to see shorten quickly with the all-important run-in approaching.

Here is all the latest Liverpool injury news and return dates...

Darwin Nunez

The Uruguayan scored his 13th goal of the season with an outrageous lob against Brentford but later picked up a knock and was replaced by Cody Gakpo at half-time of a one-sided affair at the Gtech Community Stadium.

“Darwin, we took off because he felt really a little but that was obviously today enough to immediately push the brake and that’s what we did, so we took him off and brought Cody on and that worked out really well,” Klopp said.

On Tuesday, Klopp said news about his fitness was “not great.”

Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment

Diogo Jota

Klopp has confirmed the forward is facing “months” out of action after coming off against Brentford.

"With Diogo it will take about months (not weeks). I couldn't say a timeframe even if I wanted to. That is just how it is. When you don't have these players it makes no sense [to speculate],” he said on Tuesday.

Potential return date: Unknown

Curtis Jones

The first of Liverpool’s new injured trio to be forced off at Brentford was Jones, who sustained a whack to the shin 10 minutes before half-time and was replaced by Ryan Gravenberch. As a result, he will not play on Wednesday.

“Curtis [Jones] with a bone ligament issue and is ruled out."

Asked about Jones being on crutches after the game, Klopp added: “Yes, but it’s normal. I didn’t speak to him [yet], I don’t have time because I more or less get carried around here in the stadium to have interviews and stuff like this.

“I don’t know how it developed during the second half because I saw him at half-time when it was alright-ish, but I don’t know what happened since then.”

Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment

Alisson Becker

Liverpool were already reeling ahead of the trip to Brentford by the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Alisson, who had been expected to return in west London after missing last weekend’s 3-1 win over Burnley at Anfield through illness.

However, he was absent again as deputy Caoimhin Kelleher started once more, with Klopp subsequently revealing a muscle issue for the Brazilian that requires further assessment. He will miss the Luton game.

“Alisson, that's a muscle injury where we do not know how long it will take but definitely not in the foreseeable time coming back.”

Potential return date: Unknown

Trent Alexander-Arnold

The England right-back aggravated a knee injury against Burnley and was quickly ruled out of the Carabao Cup final, leaving Klopp forced to deny claims that he had rushed him back to action too soon.

He reiterated before the Brentford game that Alexander-Arnold would not be fit for Wembley, putting his potential return at “maybe a week or two longer”.

After Wembley, Liverpool host Southampton in the FA Cup fifth round on February 28 before beginning March with a trip to Nottingham Forest.

The Reds will hope that Alexander-Arnold can prove his fitness in time for a huge title showdown with Manchester City on March 10 that is followed by a Merseyside derby trip to Everton just seven days later.

Potential return date: March 2024

Dominik Szoboszlai

The Hungarian captain made only two appearances on his return from a hamstring problem before suffering a recurrence of the issue as he scored in the 4-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield on January 31.

Szoboszlai will play no part against Luton this week, but it appears that he still has an outside chance of being fit for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

Klopp said before Brentford: "With Dom it will be around that time [the final], we will see how that exactly how works. With Trent maybe a week or two longer so it's not great.

“I would say not sure if Dom has a chance for the final, but maybe. Trent will be after."

Potential return date: February 25, vs Chelsea

Thiago Alcantara

The luckless Thiago made his first appearance after 10 months on the sidelines in the defeat by title rivals Arsenal earlier in February, but suffered another setback in his late cameo off the bench at the Emirates Stadium.

Klopp allayed fears that the Spaniard may have played his last game for Liverpool with his current contract due to expire in the summer, but once again it remains to be seen exactly how long he will be sidelined for.

“It’s a muscle issue, we don’t know the extent yet,” Klopp said. “We have to wait there a little bit, but it’s not cool, of course. It was really not good news for him, for us, for everybody. On top of losing the game already and having that is not good.

“Yes [I expect him to play again this season], but we didn’t really think about that, in the moment we just treat the injury and get a full assessment done and knowing exactly where it came from. It’s not the intensity and stuff like this, so there are different things.

“It’s just the normal procedure and it would not be a big story if he wouldn’t have been out for that long a time. That’s how it is. It’s not a big, big injury, definitely not, but it’s obviously something nobody needed.”

Potential return date: Unknown, pending further assessment

Joel Matip

Experienced centre-back Matip ruptured his ACL in the comeback win over Fulham back in December and quickly underwent surgery.

He is not expected to return this season and may well have played his last game for Liverpool with his deal also due to expire in the summer.

Potential return date: Summer 2024

Stefan Bajcetic

The teenage midfielder made such an impact in a breakthrough campaign on Merseyside last term, but has made just two appearances so far this season and none since September as he suffers with a long-term issue.

Reds assistant Pep Lijnders said in early January that Bajcetic would likely return to training in February, but that has not happened to date and it remains to be seen exactly when he might be available for selection again.

Potential return date: Unknown