One game into the new Premier League season, and Jurgen Klopp already has plenty to worry about.
Never mind Liverpool’s opening-day draw at Fulham – a performance which, in Klopp’s words, meant his players didn’t deserve hugs from their manager – it’s the injury list which is most concerning.
Thiago Alcantara became the latest player to be struck down, limping off just after half-time at Craven Cottage with what appeared to be a hamstring issue.
Thiago Alcantara
“It’s not good, but we will see,” said Klopp after Thiago had been forced off at Fulham. The Spaniard underwent a scan on Sunday, and Liverpool will hope to have caught the injury early, meaning a couple of weeks out, as opposed to four or more.
More worrying, though, is the fact that this is a pattern with the supremely-gifted midfielder. He missed 14 games in his first Premier League season, and 13 last term.
When he’s fit, he’s a game-changer for the Reds, so his absence will always be keenly felt.
Naby Keita
The best news for Klopp surrounds Keita, who missed the Fulham game through illness – not Covid-related, the club say – but who returned to training over the weekend and should be available to face Crystal Palace at Anfield next Monday.
The Guinea star is another who has traditionally missed too many games, but he will be needed in the coming weeks. And with less than a year remaining on his contract, now would be a good time to deliver.
Curtis Jones
How unfortunate can you get? Jones appeared for just a couple of minutes in the Community Shield win over Manchester City last month yet suffered, according to Klopp, “a stress reaction” which has left him sidelined since.
Liverpool say it’s not a serious issue, but he looks set to miss another couple of weeks at least, robbing the Reds of an excellent bench option as well as a potential starter during this difficult period
Ibrahima Konate
Another freak injury, the French defender suffered a knee problem following a collision in the Reds’ friendly defeat to Strasbourg last Sunday, and now looks to be out for at least a month.
Klopp has already suggested that Konate’s woes may have a knock-on effect with regards to the futures of Nat Phillips and Sepp van den Berg – one or both of whom may be retained as cover. He will be praying that Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez remain fit in the meantime
Diogo Jota
The Portuguese star has only been seen briefly this season, having broken down in his first full training session during the Reds’ Far East tour.
Jota picked up a hamstring injury on international duty in June, and then suffered a recurrence in Singapore.
He hopes to be back in action before the end of the month, but Liverpool will take no risks with him, particularly given the fact he has had no pre-season to build up a base level of fitness
Kostas Tsimikas
The Greece international also missed the Fulham game with a knee issue, picked up during the training camp in Austria last month, but is expected back in full training this week and should strengthen Klopp’s bench options against Crystal Palace
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Another player with a chequered injury past, and a habit of picking up problems at the most inopportune moments.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to miss around two months with the hamstring issue suffered against Crystal Palace in Singapore. If this is to be his last season on Merseyside – his contract expires next summer – then he could not have started it in worse fashion.
Caoimhin Kelleher
Not for the first time, the Irish international has seen his pre-season ruined by injury. Kelleher suffered a groin issue playing for his country in June, and has not yet returned to training.
Klopp said prior to the Community Shield that the 23-year-old is still “two or three weeks” away from a return.
No comments:
Post a Comment