Thibaut Courtois is reportedly a ‘serious doubt’ to face Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League later this month after the Real Madrid star picked up an injury over the weekend against RCD Mallorca.
According to Marca, the Belgian international could miss both the FIFA Club World Cup and Madrid’s clash against Liverpool in the Champions League after injuring his groin early on in a La Liga fixture, with Courtois expected to miss out on the trip to Morocco this week.
As per the report, Courtois missing out on the Champions League fixtures against Liverpool would be a ‘monumental boost’ for Jurgen Klopp’s side, with the former Chelsea star a large reason why the Merseyside club failed to beat Los Blancos in Paris last season.
Courtois put on one of the best Champions League final performances of all time as the keeper was named Man of the Match in a 1- win for Madrid. However, the 30-year-old could be stuck watching the game from the stands if he doesn’t recover in time.
Indeed, Madrid’s form since their return from the 2022 FIFA World Cup has made for poor reading, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side losing to the likes of Rayo Vallecano, Villarreal and now Mallorca, leaving FC Barcelona eight points clear at the top of La Liga.
And with Courtois now expected to miss close to a month through injury, things are just going from bad to worse for Madrid, though this latest update is a huge boost for Liverpool, who could have been handed a lifeline in the Champions League.
Courtois injury could define Liverpool’s Champions League dream
Courtois was arguably the main reason Liverpool lost last season’s Champions League final, and whilst Madrid still have many players who can turn up against the Reds later this month, having the Belgian unavailable due to injury could be a defining factor in how Klopp’s side do in Europe this campaign.
With top-four seemingly out of reach, winning the Champions League is Liverpool’s best bet to qualify for the competition next season, and Courtois being out for Madrid could be a huge boost in the upcoming series later this month.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
