Liverpool Team News: Trio Doubtful For Arsenal Clash

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is sweating on the fitness of Daniel Sturridge, James Milner and Marko Grujic with the trio doubtful to face Arsenal this weekend, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The Merseysiders head for the capital on Sunday afternoon to take on the Gunners at the Emirates in their Premier League opening game but it looks as though Klopp could be without three more first team players.

Sturridge was forced to miss Liverpool’s friendlies with Barcelona and Mainz last weekend after aggravating a hip problem and has not been able to train fully this week, with the striker doing separate light sessions away from the main squad.

Milner is still nursing a long-standing heel issue and was forced to off at half-time during Liverpool’s impressive 4-0 win over Barca at Wembley on Saturday, with the versatile midfielder joining Sturridge in training away from the main group at Melwood this week.

The Liverpool Echo claim that both players are being closely monitored by the Liverpool medical staff but are facing a race against time to prove their fitness for Sunday’s big kick off in north London.

If Sturridge misses out, then Klopp will have to choose between Roberto Firmino and Divock Origi up front while Milner’s absence means that Jordan Henderson or Gini Wijnaldum are likely to partner Emre Can in midfield.

The third player who could miss the Arsenal clash is summer signing Grujic, with the young Serbian international considered a major doubt after suffering an ankle injury during Sunday’s friendly defeat at Mainz.

Klopp will be hoping the trio are passed fit as the German coach will already be without injured goalkeeper Loris Karius, midfielder Lucas Leiva and defenders Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez for the game.