Liverpool FC injury update: Alexander Isak, Wataru Endo and Conor Bradley latest news and return dates

Sport | Football

Liverpool injury update: Alexander Isak, Wataru Endo and Conor Bradley latest news and return dates

Reds welcome Alisson back from injury, but Alexander Isak remains sidelined for Champions League decider

Liverpool injury latest: Alexander Isak, Wataru Endo and Conor Bradley

Getty / London Standard

Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

2 minutes ago

COMMENTS

Liverpool have work to do in order to progress in the Champions League this week.

Liverpool welcome Galatasaray to Anfield, trailing 1-0 from the first leg of their last-16 showdown as Mario Lemina’s goal proved to be the difference in Istanbul last Tuesday.

Preparations for the Champions League decider, however, have not gone to plan as the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham at the weekend despite taking the lead through Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick.

Liverpool supporters voiced their frustration with the result after the full-time whistle, knowing a repeat of the scoreline on Wednesday night will end hopes of a seventh European title.

The one positive against Spurs was the return of Alisson Becker - who missed the first leg - in goal, while Federico Chiesa recovered from illness to make an appearance in the second half.

With that in mind, here’s the latest Liverpool injury news and potential return dates...

Alexander Isak

It is nearly three months since Alexander Isak last featured for Liverpool. The record summer signing from Newcastle suffered an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture while scoring reverse fixture Tottenham on December 20.

Two days later the striker underwent surgery and has been on the road recovery ever since.

There is light at the end of the tunnel with Sweden boss Graham Potter raising hope of a return later this month, though a recent update from Slot suggests the start of April is a more realistic comeback date.

Alexander Isak could play a big role for Liverpool at the back end of the season

AFP via Getty Images

Slot said: "[He is] With the rehab team still and not with the team yet.

"If you ask me now I would say I don’t expect [Isak to go on international duty with Sweden in March].

Read More

Tottenham dealt new injury blow as Igor Tudor forced to make three changes

Liverpool told why they are 'bad champions' as Arsenal handed warning

Arne Slot reacts to booing in message to Liverpool fans

Sponsored

Discover a hidden island paradise in the Indian Ocean

“But we are still one-and-a-half weeks off, there is always co-operation between club and country, but I don’t expect him to play for us before that."

Potential return date: April

Wataru Endo

On a rare Premier League start for Wataru Endo against Sunderland on February 11, his night came to a premature end midway through the second half at the Stadium of Light.

The Japan international was stretched off with a foot injury and Slot immediately feared the worst regarding the midfielder’s recovery timeline.

“Wata will be out for a long time,” Slot said recently. “We don't know exactly how long - but long."

Stretchered off: Wataru Endo

AFP via Getty Images

In a recent update from Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu, Endo has undergone surgery and is targeting a return to action in time to lead his country at this summer’s World Cup.

“I’ve heard that he had surgery,” Moriyasu revealed. “I’ve heard that it went well, but I don’t know the details of how it went.

“The plan is for him to be ready in time for the World Cup, so the rehabilitation process from surgery onwards is being considered.

“In order to play in the World Cup, he, the club, and we all share the same understanding.”

Potential return date: June

Conor Bradley

At the beginning of January, Conor Bradley was taken off on a stretcher during the closing stages of goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The right-back avoided an ACL tear but needed surgery to repair the ruptured ligaments.

A club statement on the right-back read: “Liverpool FC can confirm Conor Bradley has sustained a significant knee injury.

“The right-back suffered the issue in the latter stages of Thursday night's Premier League fixture away at Arsenal.

“Bradley will undergo surgery in the coming days and then begin a period of rehabilitation at the AXA Training Centre.

“No timeframe is being placed on his return to playing at this stage of the process.”

Potential return date: Summer 2026

Giovanni Leoni

Giovanni Leoni sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament on his Liverpool debut in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton back in September.

As a result, Leoni will miss the rest of the season and likely the start of the next.

The young Italian defender, a summer signing from Parma, was ruled out for approximately 12 months after surgery and still has a long way to go in terms of his rehabilitation.

“He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for around a year,” said Slot.

“Being so young, coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game … it’s very hard to take the positive side.

“There’s never a positive side but he is still so young so he has many years to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”

Potential return date: September 2026

MORE ABOUT

Click here to read article