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Liverpool take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend as they look for a strong finish to the season to secure Champions League footbal

Aaron Morris Senior Sports Report

Giorgi Mamardashvili was stretchered off against Everton

Liverpool play host to Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, but may be without a wealth of key players. Arne Slot is feeling the string of a compacted season, as a number of his starting stars are sidelined through various injuries.

And at such an important part of the campaign, the Reds will need to be practically perfect between now and next month to secure their place in Europe for 2026/27. Liverpool sit fifth in the league standings as they head into their final five against Palace, Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford.

Adding to the pressure, each of their opponents after this weekend’s game against Palace are also pushing for Champions League football for the new season. And while Slot will have hoped to have the pick of the bunch in terms of players to lean on as Liverpool look for a frenzied finish, the Dutchman has quite the medical list to navigate.

Here, the ECHO breaks down all of the latest Liverpool injury news ahead of Saturday’s run out at Anfield…

Hugo Ekitike

Hugo Ekitike has undergone surgery on an Achilles tendon rupture he sustained during last week’s Champions League reverse with Paris Saint-Germain on home soil. Not only is the Frenchman out for the rest of the season, but he will also miss this summer’s World Cup.

Liverpool will also be without the striker for half of next season if reports claiming he will be out of action for nine months ring true. Speaking about Ekitike’s injury, Slot said: “Devastating for him coming to a new club and having so much impact straight away.

“Playing against your former club in the 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 so many special moments.

“Not the first and not the last player who experienced something like this at the start of their career, and so many examples of players coming back even stronger. 100% he will be one of those who say maybe this injury makes me even stronger and more ready to play at an even higher level.”

Potential return date – 2027

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Alisson

Alisson has been out of action since last month’s Champions League win over Galatasaray. While his exact issue has not been disclosed, Giorgi Mamardashvili has replaced him – though suffered an issue of his own in the Merseyside derby.

Taking to social media, Alisson suggested that he could make a return at the end of the month. He wrote: “I didn’t suffer a new injury. I’m in the treatment phase, and the plan is to be in full playing condition by the end of April!”

Slot has also said of the goalkeeper: “Towards the end of the season, we expect him to be fit.”

Potential return date – April 25 vs Crystal Palace

Giorgi Mamardashvili

Liverpool’s goalkeeping woes went from bad to worse when Mamardashvili was taken off during the Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday with a knee injury. The Georgian was stretchered off the pitch as Freddie Woodman was deployed in his place, while the Reds ran out 2-1 winners over Everton.

Speaking about the shot stopper after the match, Slot said: “He is gone off to hospital. It looked to me, and it is also what they told me, an open wound. It will not be a long term injury let’s see if he will be available next week.”

Potential return date – April 25 vs Crystal Palace

Giovanni Leoni

Giovanni Leoni has not featured for Liverpool since rupturing his ACL on his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup in September. It has now been suggested that the centre-half will not feature for his club until next season.

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Potential return date – Next season

Wataru Endo

Wataru Endo has been sidelined since sustaining a foot injury which left him in need of surgery during February’s trip to the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland AFC. While he is expected to recover in time to represent Japan at the World Cup, he will not feature for Liverpool again this season.

Potential return date – This summer

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Liverpool player Joe Cole has urged the club to consider a move for the Barcelona striker to solve their attacking

Former Liverpool player Joe Cole has urged the club to make a shock move for Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski following a severe injury to Hugo Ekitike, who suffered an Achilles tendon rupture. With Ekitike sidelined for months, Cole sees the 37-year-old Polish forward as an experienced, short-term fix to the Reds’ attacking crisis.

Key Details of the Situation:

The Injury Crisis: Hugo Ekitike is expected to be out for roughly nine months, leaving Alexander Isak as the primary senior striker, a report from Barca Universal suggests.

Cole’s Recommendation: Joe Cole believes Lewandowski, whose future in Spain is uncertain, would provide an immediate, high-level impact and could “easily play 30 games”.

Transfer Possibility: Although Lewandowski is a massive name, the potential for a move stems from his uncertain future at Barcelona, allowing for a short-term solution for Jurgen Klopp’s side, according to Empire of the Kop and

While the 37-year-old remains prolific, the move is suggested as a stop-gap to support the squad until Ekitike returns, says OneFootball.

As of April 2026, reports indicate this is a recommended transfer strategy rather than a confirmed negotiation.

Robert Lewandowski to Liverpool?! Arne Slot told Barcelona striker may …

17 Apr 2026 — Former Liverpool star Joe Cole urges Arne Slot to consider signing Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona to replace the injured Hugo Ekitike.

Joe Cole urges Liverpool to consider signing Robert Lewandowski

18 Apr 2026 — Joe Cole has urged Liverpool to consider a shock move for Robert Lewandowski, following the horrendous injury blow to Hugo Ekitike.

The Empire of The Kop

Liverpool urged to sign out-of-contract Barcelona superstar by …

18 Apr 2026 — Liverpool urged to sign out-of-contract Barcelona superstar by Premier League icon. … Premier League icon Joe Cole has urged Liverpool to make a move for Barc…

Barca Universal

“It’s an option” – Joe Cole urges Liverpool to consider shock move …

OneFootball Videos. The Frenchman ruptured his Achilles tendon in the 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this week and now faces several months out of ac…

OneFootball

“It’s an option” – Joe Cole urges Liverpool to consider shock move …

20 Apr 2026 — Cole: Liverpool should consider Lewandowski swoop Cole is adamant that Liverpool need to sign another striker to compensate for Ekitike’s absence, and he believ…

Barcelona preparing for life without veteran striker as exit draws closer

19 Apr 2026 — All indicators, thus, point to Barcelona and Lewandowski parting ways at the end of the season. In fact, the Spanish journalist also adds that Barcelona have al…