Liverpool Boss Confirms Double Injury Blow But Player May Return For West Ham Trip

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed a double injury blow but Dejan Lovren could be set to return for Liverpool’s trip to West Ham this weekend.

Georginio Wijnaldum looks set for a spell on the sidelines after limping out of Liverpool’s Champions League win over Maribor on Wednesday night.

The Dutch international twisted his right ankle during the opening stages of the Group E clash at Anfield and had to be replaced by Jordan Henderson in the 15th minute.

The Reds didn’t let Wijnaldum’s injury unsettle them as they eased to a 3-0 victory thanks to second half goals from Mohamed Salah, Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge to take control of the group.

Speaking after the game, Klopp offered an update on Wijnaldum’s injury and admitted that the early signs don’t look good as the ankle is already swollen but insists they’ll know how long he’ll be out for once the midfielder has a scan.

Klopp is quoted as saying by Liverpoolfc.com:

“Nobody spoke to me so far [about it]. At half-time I asked immediately and the ankle was already swollen. It’s probably not a good sign,”

“We saw a kick in the game and didn’t think it was too serious. Then it was swollen. We’re not sure if he twisted it or not. For sure, we have to make a scan.”

Klopp also offered an update on Philippe Coutinho and it seems the Brazilian international is expected to miss Saturday’s trip to West Ham as he continues to recover from an adductor injury.

Coutinho has already missed Liverpool’s last three games and Klopp suggests it will take a minor miracle for the Brazilian international to be passed fit for the trip to the London Stadium this weekend.

However, there was slightly better news regarding Lovren as the centre-back has a chance of making his return on Saturday after missing the last two games with a thigh injury picked up in the warm-up before the win over Huddersfield.

Klopp is quoted as saying by the Mirror:

“I would say it will be really close [with Lovren]. I don’t think Phil is able to play, but with Dejan we have to see.

“It is different with Dejan. It’s not the same problem Phil has and he is not out for that long a time, but Gini is out so maybe there will be a wonder or something like this and Phil is in.

“But I don’t think in the moment that he can play.”

Liverpool head in to the weekend action sitting sixth in the Premier League table – three points off the top four – so Klopp will be hoping to close the gap with a win at West Ham on Saturday.