Midweek European club football includes pre-match press conferences – and some team news from Gameweek 16.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are the first Premier League clubs in action this week, with their managers appearing in the media on Monday.
Here are the most important injury updates.
LIVERPOOL
While much of the fuss around Arne Slot’s press focused on Mohammed Salah‘s omission from the squad to face Inter Milan also brought major injury news to the Liverpool boss.
With the Reds set to be without Salah for weeks due to his involvement in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), they have now lost Cody Agat to injury.
“Cody Gakpo unfortunately picked up an injury in the last game we played against Leeds and he will be out for a few weeks.” – Arne Slot
A possible replacement in Italy, Federico Chiesais currently ill.
“Federico is ill, so you could say that’s bad timing. But yes, you can’t do anything about that.”
“So we’re monitoring his situation. If he has a great recovery – which I, we, [the] doctors do not expect that he may travel tomorrow. But let’s have an honest expectation, that’s not what I expect.” – Arne Slot
Jeremy Frimpong (hamstring) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) remain offside.
CHELSEA
The plates didn’t look good Liam Delap and Chelsea when the striker returned home with a shoulder injury on Saturday.
On Monday, widespread reports suggested the former Ipswich Town striker would emerge can miss 6-8 weeks.
Enzo Maresca didn’t confirm that timeline, but he did confirm that Delap will face a spell.
“Liam, luckily, [it] It’s not a break, so that’s good news.
“I’m honestly not sure how long he’ll be out.” – Enzo Maresca
While Marc Guiu hopes for a boost in playing time, he may have felt somewhat deflated when his manager did not mention him as a potential replacement.
“We had already had Liam out for two months, unfortunately for him and unfortunately for us. Joao played as nine, Pedro Neto played as nine. If you can remember at the start of the season Ty [George] play like a nine. That is why we are trying to find a solution.” – Enzo Maresca
Delap agrees Dario Essugo (thigh), Romeo Lavia (quadruplets), Levi Colwill (knee) and Mychailo Mudryk (suspended) on the sidelines.
And Cole Palmer will also not be part of the selection for the Champions League match against Atalanta.
There is no injury setback though, just the management of his minutes.
“Cole, it’s part of his process right now. He’s not available, he can’t play two games in a row in three days. So we planned that, and it’s just a way to protect him.” – Enzo Maresca
Moses Caicedo is available midweek but has one match remaining of his three-match home ban. He returns to the Premier League in Gameweek 17.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
After missing with a hamstring injury in Gameweek 15, Lot Udogie is now excluded until January.
Brennan JohnsonIn the meantime, it’s touch and go for Tuesday’s Slavia Prague match.
“Destiny… picked up a hamstring injury at the end of the Newcastle game so unfortunately he’s out until January. Bren is touch and go.” –Thomas Frank
Dominic Solanke (single), James Maddison (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Yves Bissouma (single/disciplinary) staying on the sidelines.
Radu Dragusin (knee) and Kota Takai (thigh) are injury-free: they played for the under-21s last week and are now awaiting the call-up to the first team, should they ever make it.
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