Klopp Confirms Double Injury Blow As Duo Ruled Out Of Key Arsenal & Man Utd Games

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Philippe Coutinho and Dejan Lovren are expected to miss Liverpool’s crunch Premier League games against Arsenal and Manchester United.

The Reds have had to cope with a lengthy injury list all season and their problems intensified after Coutinho was forced off early-on during Tuesday’s Capital One Cup win at Stoke City after suffering a hamstring injury.

Lovren was also taken off at the Britannia Stadium in the first half after picking up his own hamstring complaint leaving Klopp with a shortage of viable options at centre-back.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow night’s trip to Exeter, the Liverpool manager confirmed that not only will Coutinho and Lovren miss the FA Cup third round clash, but they will also sit-out next weeks crucial league games with Arsenal and United.

Lovren is then expected to make his return against Norwich City but unfortunately Coutinho’s injury is far worse as the Brazilian international is unlikely to play again before February.

To add to Liverpool’s woes, Klopp also confirmed that Kolo Toure is expected to miss the trip to St James Park tomorrow night due to cramp but the Ivory Coast international should be available to face former club Arsenal next Wednesday.

The German is quoted as saying by the Mirror:

“Phil is more serious than Dejan and Kolo. None of these players will be available for tomorrow.

“Always with muscle injuries, you don’t know exactly. Kolo’s cramp is not serious, but after three days, it’s not possible to play again in three days.

“With Dejan, the situation is he will be available after the Manchester United game.

“Phil needs one, maybe two weeks longer, so three weeks.”

It’s a huge blow for Liverpool to lose Coutinho and Lovren for the next three games and although the FA Cup clash tomorrow night is important, I’m sure the club will be more concerned about the duo missing out against Arsenal and United.

Toure’s injury means he joins Lovren on the sidelines along with fellow defenders Martin Skrtel, Mamdou Sakho and Joe Gomez leaving Klopp without a recognised central defender to choose from against Exeter.

The Reds boss is now going to have to either draft in some youngsters to field a make-shift defence or he could deploy Emre Can and Lucas Leiva at the back tomorrow night and hope that Toure and possibly Sakho return in time to face Arsenal next week.