Liverpool Team News: Klopp Confirms 4 Players Will Miss Watford + Henderson Update

Jurgen Klopp has conducted at his first pre-match press conference ahead of the new Premier League campaign as Liverpool prepare to take on Watford.

The Merseysiders travel to Vicarage Road on Saturday lunchtime and Klopp has given Liverpoolfc.com a team news and injury update with the latest on several of his key men.

The Reds boss confirmed that Daniel Sturridge will miss tomorrow’s game due to a thigh injury that he suffered during the Audi Cup clash with Bayern Munich last week.

Sturridge endured a frustrating injury-plagued season last year so it will be a disappointment for him to miss out this weekend but luckily Klopp says the striker could be back in contention for next week’s trip to Hoffenheim.

Liverpool will also be without Adam Lallana against Watford as the midfielder continue to recover from a thigh injury that’s expected to keep him out for several weeks.

Nathaniel Clyne is also missing due to a back injury so Trent Alexandre Arnold is expected to be given his chance to impress in the right-back role at Vicarage Road.

Klopp told the clubs website:

“Daniel had a fantastic pre-season, but it was a little thing. “He is close – he was already close for this weekend, but now for Tuesday it is pretty sure he is ready.”

“Adam Lallana had this injury which is really unlucky for all of us. Clyney had a problem from the first day and now Phil with the back, so that makes it four players and that’s not too cool but now I have to make hard decisions because a few players really showed up in pre-season.”

Liverpool will also be without influential playmaker Philippe Coutinho as the Brazilian international has a supposed back injury amid speculation that he’s handed in a transfer request in order to force a move to Barcelona.

On Coutinho, Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com:

“He has back problems and was not in training since last Friday. So no, he is not available and is also a doubt – if he is not available for Saturday – for Tuesday, unfortunately.”

Therefore, Klopp will be unable to call upon four of his key first team players against Watford but thankfully he will have skipper Jordan Henderson available for selection as he’s recovered from illness.

Klopp continued:

“It was only not to go with any risk in Dublin. The Doc told me he was not 100 per cent so we left him at home, but he was part of all sessions and was all good.”

With Coutinho unavailable, summer signing Mohamed Salah is almost certain to be handed his competitive debut as he’ll join Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in attack against Watford tomorrow.