Klopp Confirms Major Injury Boost Ahead Of Chelsea Clash + Sturridge Update

Liverpool have been handed a major injury boost ahead of their trip to Chelsea with Jurgen Klopp claiming Christian Benteke will return to action this weekend.

The Belgian striker only recently recovered from a hamstring injury and marked his return to fitness with a goal against Southampton last weekend.

Benteke then suffered a knee injury in training on Monday and was subsequently ruled out of last night’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup, putting his participation against Chelsea in doubt.

However, speaking after the game, Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com that he expects the striker to back fit and available when the Reds head to the capital on Saturday lunchtime.

That news will come as a major boost as the German coach also confirmed that Daniel Sturridge will once again miss out as he continues to nurse a niggling knee injury that’s already seen him miss four matches.

Liverpool suffered another injury concern last night when Kolo Toure limped off during the first half against Bournemouth and Klopp has confirmed the Ivory Coast international has picked up a suspected hamstring injury.

Klopp told the clubs website:

“Kolo I think was a hamstring, but I am not sure because I only saw him sitting and so we have to wait for the diagnosis.

“With Daniel, we have to talk about him when he can train and then he will need, I don’t know, two, three, four, five, six or seven days training. That is normal.

“Each footballer needs it and it’s not important how good you are unless you have enough strength to play in this really intensive league.

“There is no pressure from me – I can’t put pressure on him or the doctor or the physiotherapist, I have to wait. And when he is back, he has to train.

“I think Christian will be fit on Saturday. He had little problems and with our ‘striker situation’ we can’t take a risk. Divock played again [tonight] and he did well – he worked really hard. But I think Christian will be back.”

It’s understandable that Liverpool want to be cautious with Sturridge as he’s been plagued by injury problems throughout his career and the last thing they want to do is rush him back from this latest injury.

It looks like Benteke will be in contention so I’d expect him to start up front with young striker Divock Origi given a well-earned rest as he’s worked hard leading the line while Benteke and Sturridge have been unavailable.