Jordan Henderson: Liverpool midfielder injured for England against Belgium

Jordan Henderson joins Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold on Liverpool injury list; Andy Robertson (hamstring) doubtful and Mohamed Salah (coronavirus) unavailable for Leicester game; watch Liverpool vs Leicester on Super Sunday at 7.15pm on Sky Sports Premier League

Image: Jordan Henderson was replaced by Harry Winks in England's Nations League defeat in Belgium on Sunday

England midfielder Jordan Henderson was withdrawn at half-time against Belgium due to tightness in his leg, says manager Gareth Southgate, casting doubt on his availability for injury-hit Liverpool this weekend.

Harry Winks replaced Henderson in the second half of England's 2-0 loss in their Nations League group stage match on Sunday which ended the visitors' hopes of reaching the finals.

"Jordan had a bit of tightness at half-time and felt he couldn't carry on," said Southgate, adding he was not sure if it was a hamstring issue.

Highlights of the Nations League Group A2 match between Belgium and England

Southgate said the Liverpool skipper will be assessed when they return to England.

Liverpool have had a number of regulars in their starting line-up sidelined with injury, losing defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez after both underwent surgeries while Trent Alexander-Arnold withdrew from the England squad with injury.

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The defence is threadbare with left-back Andy Robertson also a doubt with a hamstring issue while Liverpool's midfield is without Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as both players recover from knee injuries.

Meanwhile, forward Mohamed Salah is set to miss Sunday's match against Leicester City, which is live on Sky Sports, as he isolates after testing positive for COVID-19.

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Southgate said Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling would miss their final group stage match against Iceland with a calf injury but would be available for the weekend.

Liverpool could be missing nine first-teamers against Leicester

Analysis by Sky Sports' Richard Morgan:

Image: Liverpool will definitely be without centre-backs Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk against Leicester

Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson have now joined a lengthening list of players set to miss Liverpool's top-of-the-table clash with Leicester City at Anfield on Sunday night.

Henderson was withdrawn at half-time of England's 2-0 loss in Belgium on Sunday after experiencing tightness in a muscle, while Robertson missed Scotland's 1-0 defeat to Slovakia earlier that day with a tight hamstring.

The Liverpool captain will be assessed when he returns to England, while the Scotland skipper will also be monitored ahead of his country's Nations League tie in Israel on Wednesday, making both doubts for the champions' match with the Premier League leaders this weekend.

Centre-back Rhys Williams was also left out of the England Under-21s squad to face Albania on Tuesday night with a hip issue. Manager Aidy Boothroyd said the 19-year-old was sent back to Liverpool as a precaution after complaining about a small hip problem ahead of the game.

All of which adds to the current problems facing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who found out on Friday that top scorer Mohamed Salah had tested positive for Covid-19 while on international duty with Egypt.

Liverpool's lengthening injury list

  • Fabinho - hamstring
  • Virgil Van Dijk - knee
  • Jordan Henderson - tight muscle
  • Joe Gomez - knee
  • Andy Robertson - hamstring
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold - calf
  • Thiago Alcantara - knee
  • Mo Salah - coronavirus
  • Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - knee
  • Rhys Williams - hip

Klopp has already lost centre-backs Virgin van Dijk and Joe Gomez to long-term knee injuries, while Liverpool's defence will also be missing regular right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold due to a calf strain sustained in their last league outing at Man City.

Meanwhile, Liverpool maybe unable to use versatile holding midfielder Fabinho as cover in defence against the Foxes, with the Brazilian still recovering from the hamstring strain he picked up against FC Midtjylland at the end of October.

All of which means that Klopp could be without his entire first-choice back four when the Premier League returns to action after the international break, with midfield also a problem area for the German.

Summer signing Thiago Alcantara is still suffering from the effects of the knee injury he sustained against Everton on October 17, although there is hope the playmaker may be fit enough to feature against Leicester.

However, the same cannot be said of fellow midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who injured his knee in pre-season training at the end of August and is still yet to resume training.

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Liverpool's injuries assessed

Liverpool's defensive crisis has been dealt another blow after Joe Gomez suffered a serious injury on England duty, joining Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho on the treatment table.

To compound the growing injury list, influential right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold also withdrew from international duty with a calf strain sustained during the 1-1 draw at Manchester City - while Andrew Robertson missed Scotland's 1-0 defeat to Slovakia on Sunday night, in addition to Henderson limping out of England's defeat in Belgium.

But have Liverpool picked up the most injuries this season? Data compiled by Premier Injuries reveals Jurgen Klopp's side have picked up 15 injuries lasting 10 days or more this season - only Manchester City have suffered more (16).

Salah doubtful for Leicester clash after positive coronavirus test

Image: Mohamed Salah may miss Liverpool's match against Leicester

Mohamed Salah is in "high spirits and not showing symptoms" after having his coronavirus diagnosis confirmed by a second test, the Egyptian FA has confirmed.

The Liverpool forward is self-isolating and not expected to play in the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo on Saturday and Tuesday.

He is also a doubt for Liverpool's clash with Leicester on November 22 due to UK government coronavirus rules dictating a 10-day isolation period after a positive test.

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