Liverpool Team News: Klopp Offers Update On Mane & Oxlade-Chamberlain

Liverpool will have one eye on their Champions League semi-final with Roma when they welcome Stoke to Anfield on Saturday lunchtime.

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

The Reds boss provided some positive news on Sadio Mane after confirming that the attackers injury isn’t serious and he may still be available to face Stoke tomorrow.

Mane sparked injury fears after having a scan at the Spire hospital on Wednesday after picking up a thigh problem during Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final win over Roma.

However, Klopp has played down the injury by saying it’s nothing serious and the Senegalese international still has a chance of being in contention to face the Potters on Saturday.

The Liverpool manager also expressed his disappointment after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was ruled out for the rest of the season and the World Cup finals with a knee injury.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he was stretchered off in the first half against Roma in midweek and Klopp says it’s unfortunate that the midfielder has picked up a serious injury at such an important stage of the season.

With a huge Champions League second leg coming up on Wednesday night, Klopp had been tipped to rest some of his key players against Stoke to protect them for the trip to Rome.

However, the Reds boss insists he won’t start his youngsters and will field a strong team because it wouldn’t be in the spirit of fair play to the rest of the teams in the league.

Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com:

“Of course there is something [with Mane]. We will see. It is not that serious; there is a chance for tomorrow. If we use that chance or not… it is quite early in the day.

“In these times, you always have to use each second and minute, speak to the player, speak to the Doc, speak to the physiotherapists and all that stuff. At the end, you have to make a decision and I will make a decision.”

Klopp on young players.

"In general they are ready, that's why they are around. But we cannot bring three or four in. They will be in the squad probably, but we cannot say 'we rest 3-4 players who can play' what will other clubs say? This is the motherland of fair play." #LFC

— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) April 27, 2018

Klopp on Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury: "I have no words for that. I cannot believe that this wonderful player and person – in such a positive situation and helping the team – that something like this happened. It's not fair."

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— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2018

Liverpool head in to the weekend action sitting three points adrift of second-placed Man Utd having played a game more while Spurs are three points behind with a game in hand so Klopp will want to beat Stoke to boost their chances of finishing second.