Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that left-back Andy Robertson will undergo surgery on the shoulder injury he sustained while playing for Scotland during the international break.
The 29-year-old collided with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon during Scotland's Euro 2024 qualifying loss to La Roja last week and came off worse, leaving the field with his arm in a shirt sling.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke revealed that Robertson would immediately be sent back to Liverpool to undergo further assessment, and he sat out his nation's subsequent 4-1 friendly defeat to France.
The exact nature of Robertson's injury has not been disclosed, but reports have claimed that the former Hull City man dislocated his shoulder in the incident, which would render him unavailable for a lengthy period of time.
The Reds were also fearing that Robertson may need to go under the knife to correct the problem, and Klopp confirmed the worst during Friday's pre-Merseyside derby press conference.
"The decision we go towards surgery," Klopp told the media. "There was a little chance that we could try without but talking to all experts, surgery will be the best thing long term. It means he's out for a while. Don't know exactly how long but shoulder surgery is not a very easy one."
While there is no timeframe on Robertson's recovery just yet, the 29-year-old is not expected to take to the field for the remainder of the calendar year, ruling him out of a hectic period of winter fixtures.
With Robertson set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines, Kostas Tsimikas - who has played second fiddle to the Scotsman for three years - is now expected to enjoy a consistent run of starts in the first team.
The Greece international's only starts so far this season have come in the Europa League and EFL Cup, but Klopp is keen to avoid piling the pressure on the former Olympiacos man and hinted that he could still rotate his options.
"It's not just Kostas. He cannot play all the games from now on. Joe Gomez can also play the position. We have Luke Chambers and other young boys. We need options so that's good," Klopp added.
Robertson is joined in the Liverpool treatment room by Spanish midfield duo Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara, who are still working their way back from calf and hip problems respectively.
Teenage attacker Ben Doak has also been ruled out of the visit of Everton due to a minor muscular issue sustained on international duty with Scotland Under-21s, but Cody Gakpo (knee) has a slim chance of being available.
"Cody trained once with the team so we have to see how that goes for tomorrow. Stefan out, Thiago out. Doak has a little muscle thing so we have to see but he's not available for the weekend," Klopp added.
In addition, Diogo Jota will make his return from a one-game domestic ban, but Curtis Jones is still suspended for two more games owing to his straight red card against Tottenham Hotspur.
South American quartet Alexis Mac Allister, Alisson Becker, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz are also expected to be involved for Liverpool, who could briefly rise to the top of the Premier League table with victory over their bitter rivals in the lunchtime derby. body check tags ::
