Liverpool
Liverpool Team News: Klopp Confirms Duo Will Miss Man City, Two Others Doubtful
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that two Liverpool players have been ruled out of their clash with Man City while two others face late fitness tests.
Liverpool will look to cement their position in the top four when they take on Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday lunchtime.
Ahead of the game, Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s given Liverpoolfc.com a team news and injury update.
The Reds boss confirmed that Jordan Henderson has ‘no chance’ of being in contention to face City as he continues to recover from a foot injury that’s already kept him out of the last three games.
The Liverpool skipper has been forced to miss matches against Leicester, Arsenal and Burnley but the midfielder will be hopeful of making his comeback against Everton after the international break.
Klopp also confirmed that Daniel Sturridge is still out as he continues to recover from a hip problem that’s kept him out in recent weeks so the striker will also be looking to regain hit fitness ahead of the Merseyside derby next month.
Roberto Firmino was also forced to miss the win over Burnley due to injury and the Brazilian international remains a doubt for the trip to the Etihad this weekend.
Klopp says he hopes Firmino will be able to return to training either today or tomorrow so they’ll have to make a late decision over his possible involvement on Sunday.
Liverpool’s options up front could be even further limited as Klopp also revealed that Divock Origi was forced to sit out training on Thursday due to a minor knock and the Belgian striker is now a doubt for the City game.
However, there was at least one piece of positive news for the Anfield club as Dejan Lovren is back in contention after coming through 75 minutes for the U23’s on Monday night having recently recovered from a knee injury.
Klopp told the clubs website:
“What can I say about the injury situation? So, we missed a few players in training this week. Who will not be involved? Hendo, but I said already last week he had no chance. Daniel Sturridge, no chance.
“Roberto Firmino didn’t train with the team so far, but should probably be involved today or tomorrow, so could be an option.
“The icing on the cake is that Divock Origi was off yesterday because he felt a little bit – probably not serious but in our situation we have to be really sensitive. That’s what we did. We will see if he can be involved today or tomorrow, but it’s not 100 per cent.
“We have a few open questions, but Dejan played on Monday night and he is fit.”
So Liverpool will be praying that Firmino and/or Origi are passed fit to start otherwise they’ll have something of a striker crisis to deal with this weekend.
The Reds head in to the weekend action sitting five points clear in fourth place and a win on Sunday would see them leapfrog City in to at least third, depending on Tottenham’s result against Southampton.
