Liverpool have recently experienced a reversal in their injury fortunes. Instead of more athletes becoming injured, more and more are returning from them. We’ve already seen Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah return to the team.
However, three additional returnees are expected following the international break. Ryan Gravenberch, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Curtis Jones all expected to return to Liverpool’s lineup against Brighton. That is very good news.
Even better, Jurgen Klopp recently stated that he expects Stefan Bajcetic to practice with Liverpool’s first squad later this month. The Spain U21 international has been sidelined for nearly a year due to ongoing difficulties, making few appearances for Liverpool.
The good news is that he is not the only young Liverpool player who has recently returned to duty after a long-term injury. Another player returned yesterday, starting for the club’s U21 team in a 2-0 win over Manchester City.
What Jurgen Klopp said about Isaac Mabaya.
Liverpool recorded a remarkable Premier League 2 victory over Manchester City yesterday. Rhys Williams and Trent Kone-Doherty scored for the youthful Reds, who won convincingly. And as the final whistle blew, Liverpool had more than just the triumph to celebrate.
Isaac Mabaya was also introduced on the pitch in the last ten minutes of the game. Since September, the 19-year-old prospect has been out of play due to an injury. This was his first competitive outing since starting for the U21s against Middlesbrough in a 4-1 rematch.
It’s fantastic to have Mabaya back on the pitch. He is a highly regarded talent who can play in a variety of roles. He has primarily played right back for Liverpool’s first team. Almost two years ago, he was closely connected with the first team, routinely training with Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Mabaya also played a significant role in the club’s first team during the summer 2022 preseason. Jurgen Klopp appreciated Mabaya’s performances at the time, especially given his youth and ability to play so well.
What Pep Lijnders has said about Isaac Mabaya
Meanwhile, Pep Lijnders stated on the club’s official website that when Mabaya plays, ‘the right side becomes a highway’. At the time, it appeared that Mabaya’s path to the first team was clear. Similarly, Bajcetic took advantage of the pre-season to impress Klopp.
However, what has happened has been quite unfortunate. Mabaya had a significant injury at the start of the following season and was sidelined for 10 months. He returned at the start of this season after missing six months owing to an injury.
Hopefully, Mabaya will be able to kick on and change his circumstances. He is still only 19 years old and has the potential to be considered for the first team again. He will, however, take things gradually at first.
