The Evening Standard reports that Liverpool enter the March 2026 international break with a massive injury list. Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah, and Hugo Ekitike all face fitness issues. These concerns will surely keep Arne Slot awake at night. Liverpool left Alisson and Salah out of the squad against Brighton. Then, Ekitike left the pitch just minutes into the game. Alisson missed the 2-1 loss to Brighton and will not join the Brazil squad for their upcoming matches.
When do Ekitike, Salah and Alisson return from injury?
Alisson told his Instagram followers that he will remain out for a while. The club have not yet released a specific timeline or diagnosis. Georgian keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili started at the Amex instead. Ekitike left the Brighton match early after a collision. Slot later confirmed it was just a dead leg. He even suggested the striker could have played the following day. Ekitike joined the France squad on Monday, just two days after the knock. This is a great sign for his fitness.
Meanwhile, Salah picked up a muscle injury during the Champions League win over Galatasaray. He will miss Egypt’s matches during this break. Conor Bradley’s season has ended following knee surgery. Long-term injuries also keep Stefan Bajcetic and Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines. The squad looks incredibly thin right now as Liverpool face a massive test on 4 April in the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City.
Does Liverpool depend on Salah for titles?
This crisis forces us to ask a tough question that nobody at Anfield wants to face. Mohamed Salah turned 33 last June. He remains the heart of the Liverpool attack and Egypt’s most vital player. His body has held up better than most players at this level. Before the Brighton game, Slot noted that Salah recovers faster than his peers. Salah maintains his fitness perfectly, and history suggests he could return sooner than expected.
That news helps, but the real problem goes beyond one muscle injury. Liverpool are currently fighting for a Champions League spot rather than the league title. A tenth league defeat this season hurt Arne Slot’s hopes of qualifying for Europe. Luckily, Chelsea’s loss at Everton provided some breathing room.
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The truth is simple: without a fit Salah, this squad lacks the spark to hurt top teams. Ekitike shows real talent at 22, but he is still learning. Alisson’s absence might be even more worrying. The defence looks shaky whenever he is not in goal. The international break gives the club two weeks to address these issues, and Liverpool must make the most of this time. The April fixtures will demand much more than this depleted squad can currently give.
