Liverpool’s current injury problems may not be as acute as they were around 12 months ago but that does not mean they have not had issues this season.
Far from it. Eighteen different players have been unavailable for at least one match in 2021/22, with the men in question having collectively missed 106 matches already.
However, things are looking up on this front, as aside from Harvey Elliott, the next two longest standing absentees are both close to first team returns.
The players are Roberto Firmino and Curtis Jones, and prior to their injuries the pair had shown glimpses of how well they can potentially link up when in the team together.
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"Bobby is back in full training, Curtis yesterday in big parts of training,” Jurgen Klopp said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game with Newcastle United.
"Curtis had a partial session with the team. Timing-wise, it couldn't be better,” he added.
And the Reds’ manager is undoubtedly right about that. His side face eight matches in the next 31 days, during which time three key members of the squad will jet off to the Cup of Nations in Cameroon ( as things currently stand, at least).
But it isn’t simply a question of numbers but also the qualities which the two returning players will add to Klopp’s team.
Nobody needs reminding of Firmino’s importance to how Liverpool play, and the Brazilian was in a reach vein of scoring form prior to injury.
Thanks to his hattrick and assist at Watford and a brace in Portugal, the Reds’ number nine has made a goal contribution every 74 minutes this season.
While not at that level, Jones’ record of a goal or assist every 152 minutes currently sits him between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Sadio Mane in the Liverpool standings, which is no bad place to be.
The Reds’ 5-1 Champions League win at Porto is a big reason as to why they have such good records. Firmino scored twice, Jones picked up a pair of assists, and their paths crossed for Liverpool’s fourth goal on the night.
The former had only been on the pitch for about 10 minutes when his young midfield teammate evaded the challenge of two Porto players and sent a long pass in his direction. Thanks to some terrible decision making by goalkeeper Diogo Costa, Firmino was then able to roll the ball into an open goal.
Four minutes later, a long range shot by Jones was blocked but fell perfectly for Bobby to complete the scoring. While not officially an assist, the goal could not have happened without the initial attempt.
The most recent game in which both players featured was the 2-2 draw with Brighton at the end of October. Though the official records show neither directly contributed to a goal, Firmino and Jones both played parts in the moves which led to Jordan Henderson and Mane scoring.
This means that four of the last five goals for which Jones has been involved also featured a contribution at some point by Firmino.
There were also four Liverpool goals last season – against Wolves, Tottenham, RB Leipzig and Sheffield United – for which the two players exchanged at least one pass in the build-up.
Though the Reds broke the deadlock at Brammall Lane through an own goal, Firmino played a one-two with Jones on his way into the penalty area prior to taking the shot which resulted in the deflected goal.
The roles were reversed against Spurs 12 months ago. This time it was the young scouser who made the run into the box after an exchange of passes with Firmino, and though Jones was tackled, the ball reached Mohamed Salah who scored.
Liverpool’s game with Tottenham this weekend will surely have come a little too soon for either Firmino or Jones to play a significant part.
Irrespective of that, Klopp will be delighted to have two very important players available for selection once more, especially as they have shown signs of combining well together.
