Liverpool injury update: Dominik Szoboszlai, Victor Munoz, Jeremie Frimpong latest news and return dates

Liverpool‘s treatment room remains a mix of players closing in on returns and long-term absentees.

Dominik Szoboszlai suffered a setback on his recent comeback, while the likes of Florian Wirtz, Victor Munoz and Jeremie Frimpong have all been struggling of late.

Andoni Iraola’s men were in action on Wednesday night and booked their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup with a dramtic shootout defeat of Chelsea.

The Reds welcome reigning Premier League champions Arsenal to Merseyside on Sunday, with victory key if Andoni Iraola’s charges harbour serious ambitions of a title charge this term.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool fans were left frustrated that Szoboszlai aggravated a hamstring injury on international duty with Hungary last month. The midfielder was then forced off with injury in his first game back after the break, the 2-1 win at Brentford.

Speaking ahead of the Chelsea game, Iraola used Wirtz’s knock as a benchmark to compare recoveries, indicating that the timelines for both Szoboszlai and Munoz will be quite short.

He stated: “With Dom and Victor, I'm not so sure. I don't want to say no, but I think it's more difficult than Florian.”

Dominik Szoboszlai is closing in on a return to action

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Speaking last week, Iraola indicated that Szoboszlai’s injury had not worsened, but did state that Liverpool would have to take a patient approach to reintroducing the Hungarian international.

The most recent comments from Iraola suggested that the midfielder will be back either for Sunday’s clash with Arsenal, or the trip to Crystal Palace the following weekend. Liverpool also face Dirk Kuyt’s Fenerbahce in the Champions League next Wednesday.

Iraola stated: “Dom is going to be out this weekend, I don’t think he is far [away from a return] but he has not trained with the group still and also considering that the other day we started him and he had to go out.

“He is in a good place, he is already training outside alone and is going to train with the group, but he is not ready for this one.”

Potential return date: Sunday November 1, vs Arsenal (H) or Wednesday November 4, vs Fenerbahce (A)

Jeremie Frimpong

Iraola is preparing to be without Frimpong until after the next international break.

The former Manchester City academy player has been plagued by hamstring issues throughout his time at Anfield.

On Frimpong, Iraola last said: “Jeremie Frimpong is obviously a new muscle injury and it happened, I think, in the second or third minute he was playing, difficult to predict and we will have to wait until he recovers.

“But it’s going to be difficult, I think, before the [November international] break. We will try but it’s going to be difficult to have him.”

Potential return date: Sunday November 22, vs Manchester United (H)

Victor Munoz

Munoz managed to play the full 90 minutes against Brentford, but it was revealed after the game that the Spanish winger had picked up a knock.

Viewed as a minor issue, it prevented Munoz from featuring against Brighton. However, Iraola’s comments leading up to the game hinted at a possible return this weekend, especially after Munoz missed the Chelsea clash.

Last Friday, Iraola revealed: “It was too early the other day against Villarreal, and I think it is going to be difficult [for Brighton] but I really don't know.”

Potential return date: Sunday November 1, vs Arsenal (H)

Victor Munoz scored on his last appearance for the Reds

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Giovanni Leoni

Leoni has become somewhat of a forgotten man at Anfield after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on his Liverpool debut in the Carabao Cup last September.

Only weeks prior the young defender had made a £26million switch from Parma. Leoni’s recovery journey revealed that it was not just an ACL tear, with further complications found.

“It’s taking more time than we wanted,” said Iraola.

“The planning was to train with the team in this past international break [but] probably it’s going to be in the next international break, so we’ve lost one month in the process.

“Giovanni’s injury, I wasn’t here but talking to the medical department, it was not just an ACL – it was a bad injury, a lot of things around the knee were involved apart from the ACL.”

Potential return date: December

Giovanni Leoni has seen his return to Liverpool training delayed by a month

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Conor Bradley

Liverpool are currently short at right-back, with Frimpong joined by Bradley in the treatment room. Bradley sustained a serious knee injury against Arsenal in January, and is now closing in on a return to action.

Iraola’s latest comments were positive, indicating that Bradley will soon return to full training.

“[He is] doing very well,” Iraola shared.

“I think [he is] in a good place. Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group.

“I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us."

A return following the November international break seems likely.

Potential return date: December

Hugo Ekitike

Another long-term absentee is Ekitike, with the French striker recovering from a torn Achilles suffered back in April.

Currently rehabbing after undergoing surgery, Iraola placed Ekitike’s timeline for a return behind Bradley.

"They are both doing very well," Iraola recently said of Ekitike and Bradley.

"I think they are in a good place. Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group.

"Hugo is a little bit behind that but that was always the plan. He is still doing very well according to the plan."