Liverpool v Sheffield United: Third midfielder ruled out for the Reds
By David Gate
Liverpool will be without new signing Takumi Minamino for the visit of Sheffield United this week as the midfielder will not be eligible to play.
Liverpool Football Club are expected to complete the signing of Takumi Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg when the transfer window opens on Wednesday but it appears he won’t be available to play against Sheffield United the following day.
Jurgen Klopp had expressed after 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday that he hoped two new players would be available for their next game; Takumi Minamino and the returning Nat Phillips from his loan at Stuttgart. He stated:
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"“For the next game we’ll maybe have two more players. Maybe Nat Phillips will be here and Takumi. We have to see how he is after the winter break, he trained obviously, but not with the team.”"
However, the Premier League rules state that no player signed on January 1st or 2nd will be available for Matchweek 21.
That means the Kop will have to wait until Sunday’s visit of Everton in the FA Cup to see the new signing in Red for the first time.
Klopp is already missing Fabinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain through injury. Xherdan Shaqiri missed the visit of Wolves with a calf strain and his availability is unknown for Thursday. Now his hopes of having Minamino have been dashed, he will have to use the first team players again despite the busy schedule.
James Milner, Naby Keita and Divock Origi all came off the bench against Wolves and will likely be given starts against The Blades. The rest of the bench consisted of three youngsters: Harvey Elliott, Neco Williams and Curtis Jones. That trio will likely feature in the Merseyside derby.
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A win or a draw against Sheffield United would make it over a calendar year since the club last lost in the Premier League; the 2-1 defeat to Man City on January 3rd 2019.