Liverpool Injury Update: Rodgers Confirms 6 Players Could Miss Aston Villa Game

Premier League action returns this weekend after the international break as Liverpool entertain Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Ahead of the game, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has been speaking at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and gave Liverpoolfc.com a team news and injury update.

First up and Rodgers gave the latest on Daniel Sturridge and he confirmed that the striker will be out for up to three weeks after picking up a thigh injury training with England last week.

The Northern Irishman also revealed some disappointing news on Emre Can with the midfielder facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury while playing for the German U-21 side this week.

The Merseysiders have a further injury doubt with Joe Allen facing a late test on a knee injury sustained while playing for Wales against Andorra on Tuesday night, with the controversial 3G pitch looking like it may have taken another victim.

Rodgers went on to confirm that Martin Skrtel remains out with a knee injury but hopes to have the defender back in training on Sunday. The Slovakian is joined on the sidelines by Glen Johnson as he continues to nurse a thigh injury and Jon Flanagan who is edging closer to full fitness following a knee injury.

There was some positive injury news from Rodgers with Adam Lallana confirmed as being available after he recovered from his own knee problem that he picked up in pre-season.

Here’s what the Reds boss told the clubs official website:

“It could be up to three weeks [for Sturridge], which is obviously disappointing,”

“We’ve got Emre Can back from Germany, who could be out for up to six weeks because of his ankle,”

“We’ve got Joe Allen back from playing on an awful pitch and he has an issue with his knee. We just need to assess that for the weekend.

“Those are the types of things than can happen in games and it’s unfortunate.”

“Martin Skrtel won’t be available for the weekend but will hopefully join up with the team when we train on Sunday,”

“Glen Johnson still has a wee way to go. Young Jon Flanagan is edging towards [fitness] but is not in the squad yet.

“Adam Lallana has been back in the squad for the last couple of weeks, so he’s fine.”

The return of Lallana will be a welcome boost for Rodgers but his options in defence are limited with Skrtel, Flanagan and Johnson all out. Joe Allen would also be a huge miss if he’s ruled out now that Can is set for a spell on the treatment table, so the Reds boss will be hoping the Welshman comes through his late fitness test.

The absence of Sturridge leaves Rodgers with a decision to make over who to bring in and what formation to adopt, but he’s got plenty of options in attack to choose from.