Liverpool Team News: Klopp Confirms Injury Blow Ahead Of League Cup Showdown

Jurgen Klopp will look to secure his first win as Liverpool manager when the Reds entertain Bournemouth at Anfield in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup tomorrow night.

Ahead of the game, Klopp has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and has given reporters a team news and injury update.

Unfortunately, the German coach confirmed that while Daniel Sturridge is progressing in his recovery from a knee injury, this game will come too soon for the striker.

Sturridge has missed the last three matches after picking up a knee knock in training on the eve of Liverpool’s trip to White Hart Lane earlier this month and there were hopes he would return tomorrow night.

However, the 26-year-old is still unable to fully train on the knee so he’ll continue to sit in the stands when Bournemouth come to Merseyside on Wednesday.

Klopp also confirmed that he’ll make changes for the game as he looks to keep his key men fit ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but he refused to divulge how many players he’ll rest from the team that drew 1-1 with Southampton on Sunday.

He’s quoted as saying by ESPN:

“There’s nothing new. Sturridge is getting better but not quick enough to change the situation for us tomorrow.”

“I don’t know how many yet.”

“It’s a very, very important game but I know we have a lot of games in the legs so we have to change.”

It’s a real blow for Sturridge to be out but the good news is that Christian Benteke is fit and available after recovering from a hamstring injury. The Belgian international came off the bench to score at the weekend and is now in-line to start against Bournemouth tomorrow night.