Liverpool Boss Delivers Huge Double Injury Boost

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has delivered a huge double injury boost after offering an update on the fitness of Philippe Coutinho and Joel Matip.

Coutinho has been on the sidelines since suffering ankle ligament damage during the Reds 2-0 win over Sunderland three weeks ago having jarred his right ankle during a challenge from Didier Ndong.

Scans revealed that the Brazilian international had escaped the need to undergo surgery but he was still initially not expected to be fit again until the early stages of 2017.

However, Coutinho has made good progress in his recovery so far and suggested last week that he was hoping to be available when Liverpool entertain Manchester City at Anfield on New Years Eve.

Klopp has revealed that the 24-year-old has been able to walk without crutches since the draw with West Ham last week and hasn’t ruled out the playmaker being fit to face City, but the Reds boss insists he won’t rush him back too soon.

Klopp is quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo.

“It would be cool (if he was available to face City). I won’t stop him. In this moment he is improving a lot.

“He is off his crutches since the West Ham game, when we left the stadium he was walking in front without them.

“We will have to see. No idea at the moment. I never rush a player back. I’m the most patient person in Liverpool. I always wait for someone. I can’t rush it.”

The Echo suggest that Coutinho could step up his recovery by returning to light training next week and as long as he doesn’t suffer any reaction, the South American could then put himself in the frame to take on City on December 31st.

That would be a huge boost to Liverpool as Coutinho has arguably been their most important player over the past 18 months so no doubt Klopp would love to have him available when title-rivals City come to Merseyside.

There was further positive news on the injury front from the German coach as has played down suggestions that Joel Matip may need surgery to cure a niggling ankle injury which has hampered him in recent weeks.

Matip missed the loss at Bournemouth earlier this month before also sitting out the win over Middlesbrough in midweek and the Cameroon international remains a doubt for Monday’s trip to Everton.

However, Klopp has dismissed the idea of the centre-back requiring surgery and insists it’s just a matter of giving Matip enough time to recover from the troublesome injury.

Klopp continued to the Liverpool Echo:

“It’s just a case of time. There will be no surgery, there is not even a risk of it. It is only about resting the injury or not.

“Try it every day or give it a few days. That is what we already did. Against West Ham it was possible to play but then against Middlesbrough it was not.

“For Bournemouth he was involved in the squad and then we made the decision (not to play him). It’s in the moment. It is not perfect because we have no time so you can’t say ‘this game isn’t really important or whatever’.

Matip has been an excellent addition to the Liverpool squad since arriving from Schalke in the summer so I’m sure Klopp is desperate for the defender to overcome this ankle injury as quickly as possible.

If the 25-year-old isn’t risked against Everton on Monday then Ragnar Klavan is expected to continue alongside Dejan Lovren in the middle of defence at Goodison Park.