19 December 2023 , 14:53
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Liverpool have confirmed that Diogo Jota is close to a return from injury but talented youngster Ben Doak will require surgery after tearing his meniscus.
The Reds head into the Christmas period firmly in the title race despite the absence of several key players at various stages of the 2023-24 campaign. And it now appears as though some are beginning to close in on a return to action.
Ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup quarter-final against West Ham, Jurgen Klopp's assistant, Pep Lijnders, issued an injury update. And while it was positive news in terms of Jota, the fact that Doak is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines is a blow.
Lijnders told reporters on Tuesday: “Diogo is doing ball work on the pitch so that is getting closer and closer. But always with hamstring injuries you have to be careful, we always say when they come back give them another two or three days for sure.”
But it was less positive news on Doak, with Lijnders confirming the highly-rated teenage forward had torn his meniscus during an Under-21 match. He said of Doak: “That’s not a good one. He teared his lateral meniscus, which needs surgery. That one will take [a] longer time.
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“He is young, he is a fit guy, he is a positive guy so for sure he will come back stronger, and we need him to come back with the same fire he has with the ball, how he was. He can take time and we will wait for him.”
Lijnders also confirmed that summer signing Alexis Mac Allister will be missing until the New Year. The Argentinean midfielder missed Sunday's 0-0 stalemate with Manchester United after injuring his knee in the 2-0 win over Sheffield United at the start of the month and will not participate in the Reds' festive fixtures.
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Ben Doak will be forced to undergo surgery after tearing his miniscus (George Wood)Liverpool were eliminated from the Carabao Cup in the fourth round by title rivals Manchester City last year, but they did win the tournament the year before along with the FA Cup.
With the likes of City and Arsenal no longer in the competition, Liverpool have been installed as the new favourites to win the cup ahead of Wednesday night's meeting with the Hammers.