Liverpool Team News: Rodgers Gives Latest On Coutinho, Toure & Sturridge

Liverpool welcome Norwich City to Anfield on Wednesday evening looking to bounce back from Sunday’s disappointing defeat to Hull City.

The Reds saw their title ambitions take a huge hit with a 3-1 loss at the KC Stadium so an immediate response this week against the Canaries is required to get them back on track.

Ahead of the game, boss Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media and gave Liverpoolfc.com a team news and injury update including the latest on the fitness of Philippe Coutinho, Kolo Toure and Daniel Sturridge.

Coutinho was only able to make a late substitute appearance on Sunday after picking up an ankle sprain against Everton last week. The Brazilian was unable to train all last week but has suffered no reaction to playing 25 minutes against Hull and is back in contention to start on Wednesday.

However, defender Toure is facing a last fitness check after suffering a hip injury last time out. Rodgers told the clubs official website:

“Philippe will be fine.

“He’s had no further reaction from the game yesterday. He’s trained this morning, so all being well he’ll be fit.”

“We’ll assess that [Toure injury] in the next 24 hours, but hopefully he should be available.”

After the loss at Hull, Rodgers also gave the latest on Sturridge’s injury after it emerged the striker is facing up to six weeks out with an ankle injury picked up in training on Friday. While the Reds boss admitted it’s a huge blow, he’s now challenged some of his fringe players to stake their claim for a first team spot:

“Daniel could be out now for up to eight weeks – which will be a big blow for us.

“He’ll be disappointed. It’s a very busy period we’re coming into and we’re a squad that needs as many of our good players as possible. It’s not ideal.

“It was an ankle sprain [in training]. He just slipped on the surface. We thought initially it was his toe and he went straight in with the medics before the end of training getting a scan. Then it came back that that’s what it was [ankle]. It’s a big blow for us.

“We’ve got other players available that will hopefully come in and stake their claim now.

“Our front area of the pitch has been reasonably settled, but this will give someone else an opportunity if they come in.”

The loss at Hull has left Liverpool sitting fourth in the Premier League table – a full seven points adrift of Arsenal – so victory over Norwich is vital to get back in the title hunt.

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