Liverpool Team News: Klopp Confirms He Could Be Without 6 Players Against Man City

Liverpool will be looking to take control of their Champions League quarter-final with Manchester City when they meet for the first leg at Anfield tomorrow night.

Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided a team news and injury update ahead of the game.

The Reds boss confirmed earlier today that Joel Matip has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a thigh injury during the 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Klopp says the severity of the injury came as a shock as the player was able to complete the full ninety minutes and they had no idea it was so serious until the scan results came back.

Matip is now certain to miss the rest of the season and may require surgery but the Cameroon international is expected to recover in time to start pre-season training in the summer.

There was slightly better news regarding Adam Lallana as the midfielder could yet play again this season despite suffering a hamstring injury at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Klopp says he’s relieved the injury wasn’t worse and is hopeful Lallana will play again this season but the midfielder is out for a few weeks at least so will obviously miss the games against City.

Ben Woodburn has also been ruled out of the game tomorrow night while Joe Gomez is still 2/3 weeks away from returning from an ankle injury that he picked up during the international break. Klopp also confirmed that Ragnar Klavan is still missing so he’s desperately short of options in the middle of defence tomorrow night.

However, the Reds boss hasn’t given up hope of Emre Can being fit to face City despite the midfielder not training for almost two weeks because of a niggling back injury.

Jürgen Klopp on Can: "Emre will at least be very, very close for tomorrow. We will see."#LFC

— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) April 3, 2018

Jürgen Klopp on Matip: "Joel is out for the rest of the season, no doubt about that. He should be back for pre-season."#LFC

— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) April 3, 2018

Klopp on Matip: "Joel was surprised, no one thought it would be this serious before he had the scan. Ragnar (Klavan) has no chance, we need to be sensible. Joe Gomez out for another 2 or 3 weeks."

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) April 3, 2018

"Adam we have to see. It is a hamstring injury which could have been worse. There's a chance he could be back by end of the season. Emre (Can) will at least be v close for tomorrow. @J_Gomez97 not involved, Ragnar Klavan not involved, If there's a centre-half in the room….

— Carl Markham (@carlmarkham) April 3, 2018

With Matip, Klavan and Gomez all ruled out tomorrow, it means Dejan Lovren is certain to start alongside Virgil van Dijk in the middle of defence but Klopp has limited options if either player gets injured.

If Can is also ruled out then it means Liverpool will be without six first team squad players for their crucial showdown with Premier League champions elect Man City.

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