Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka v Wigan Athletic

Mikel Arteta has given his latest update on Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke ahead of our trip to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Bukayo hasn’t featured for us since the Carabao Cup final against Sunday’s opponents, and during his press conference, Mikel ruled the England international out of the contest.

“Bukayo is out, that’s for sure,” he said. “He’s just starting to do some stuff, so let’s see that progression, how quickly we can go through it, and then wait, but at the moment it’s not about that.”

Another option down the right is Madueke, who was forced off in our 0-0 draw against Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg.

On whether the winger would be fit for the trip to Manchester, Mikel said: “We have another training session tomorrow. He didn’t look that bad after the game, and he was quite positive. He’s a player who pushes through pain, so I’m hopeful that he can be available, but we have to wait and see if he’s able to train tomorrow.

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“We’ve had to cope with that [injuries] all season and if you look back at the stages and the players that we’ve missed for big, big, big periods and where we are, it’s not normal where we are.

“But we have coped with that because of our mentality and the solutions that we find, the way the players have stepped up in this moment. And we are where we are. We are still very strong and we will remain the same way.”

Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori also missed the quarter-final second leg against Sporting.

When asked if the trio would be in contention, Mikel said: “We will try again. Some players are quite close, but the turnaround is short, so we will try tomorrow to push everybody, and if they are in good condition, they will be part of us, and if not, they won’t. They haven’t been in the last few weeks, unfortunately.”

Struggling Premier League champions Liverpool will travel to face Merseyside derby rivals Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, hoping to bolster their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

Last time out, Arne Slot’s Reds were eliminated from UEFA’s premier club competition at the quarter-final stage by Paris Saint-Germain, losing 2-0 at the Parc des Princes and 2-0 at Anfield on Tuesday.

To make matters worse, Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike suffered an Achilles injury in the first half of this week’s second leg, meaning that responsibility for the team’s attacking output now falls on the shoulders of Alexander Isak, who only recently returned from a four-month layoff.

Read on as Sports Mole rounds up Liverpool’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of their Premier League clash with Everton on Sunday.

GIOVANNI LEONI

Status: Out

Type of injury: ACL

Possible return date: Unknown

Nineteen-year-old centre-back Giovanni Leoni recently stepped up his recovery process by training on grass for the first time since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his debut.

The youngster, who was signed from Parma in the summer of 2025, will be raring to go in 2026-27.

WATARU ENDO

Status: Out

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: June 1

Defensive midfielder Wataru Endo started at right-back against Sunderland on February 11, covering for a number of other injuries in the position, only to be stretchered off after suffering a major ankle injury of his own.

The Japan captain’s surgery to fix the problem was successful, and while he will not feature again in 2025-26, Slot has stated that “The plan is for him to be ready in time [for the World Cup].”

CONOR BRADLEY

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

First-choice right-back Conor Bradley suffered a major knee injury against Arsenal on January 8, undergoing successful surgery to repair the issue.

As he recovers and goes through rehabilitation, the 22-year-old may be sidelined into the early stages of the 2026-27 campaign.

HUGO EKITIKE

Status: Out

Type of injury: Achilles

Possible return date: Unknown

Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles in the first half of Liverpool’s defeat against PSG, and will miss the remainder of the campaign.

The French striker will also miss the 2026 World Cup, and while it remains to be seen exactly how long the number 22 will be sidelined, a layoff of at least nine months would not come as a surprise.

ALISSON BECKER

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: May 3 (vs. Manchester United)

Alisson Becker has been out of action for the last five games, adding to his notoriety for being one of the most injury-prone goalkeepers around.

The Reds’ number one was not training with the team ahead of their clash against PSG, and is not expected to feature against Everton. Alisson is likely to be aiming for a comeback against Liverpool’s other rivals – Manchester United.

LIVERPOOL SUSPENSION LIST

Liverpool have no players suspended for this game

Arne Slot has spoken about Hugo Ekitike’s injury blow with the Liverpool forward set to be out until at least 2027 after rupturing his Achilles tendon

Arne Slot speaking in his pre-Everton press conference(This Is Anfield

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed that Hugo Ekitike is yet to have an operation on the Achilles tendon injury he suffered during Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ekitike, 23, left the pitch on a stretcher and in tears after just 31 minutes of the quarter-final second leg at Anfield. After attempting to sprint, the France international went down off the ball and was in serious pain. He received immediate medical attention before being taken off the pitch and straight down the tunnel.

Slot cut a concerned figure post-match and Liverpool have since confirmed on that Ekitike has torn his Achilles and is set for a long spell on the sidelines. There are fears that, as well as missing the rest of the current season and this summer’s World Cup, that Ekitike might not return until at least 2027.

Addressing Ekitike’s injury for the first time since it was revealed he will be out for several months, Slot said in his pre-Everton press conference: “He hasn’t been operated on yet.

“Devastating for him coming to a new club having so much impact straight away. Playing against your former club in a Champions League quarter-final with so much to come for him in the summer.

“First thoughts are with him being out for such along time, missing out on some many special moments. Not the first and not the last player to experience something like this at start of career and so many examples of players coming back even stronger, and 100 per cent he will be one of those.

“Maybe this injury makes me even more stronger and more ready to play at even higher level.”

Hugo Ekitike suffered a serious Achilles injury against PSG on Tuesday

Shortly after Liverpool confirmed the extent of Ekitike’s injury, he took to social media to send a message.