‘We have to check’ Klopp offers faint injury hope
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has offered faint injury hope.
This team has been rocked by crisis after crisis, whether that’s with VAR, bad tackles or bad luck. Klopp has created a side in his own image, a side that rides the waves of outrageous misfortune like an elite surfer barreling down towards the beach.
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri picked up injuries and it was revealed that Thiago was a lot further away from returning to action than we all thought.
Jordan Henderson was granted some time on the pitch to reacquaint himself with elite-level football and is on the mend – which was can all agree is a great thing.
A disappointing draw against Brighton was achieved despite two goals being ruled out for offside and Brighton being awarded two penalties. An injury to James Milner sullied proceedings and that will impact Klopp’s thinking for the Ajax clash.
Klopp was asked about who may be available to play the Dutch giants on Tuesday, and he provided a small glimmer of hope among all the gloom. The official club website reported that he said:
"“With Naby we have to check there still, but with the other two, they will not be ready. Trent looks quite good, but nobody gave me the green light for tonight.”"
Keita, the man who had enjoyed a successful (it’s all relative) start to the season had been sidelined for four games. He came in to start against Leicester but limped out after just 53 minutes with a hamstring problem.
He missed the draw against the Seagulls but could be available to take on Ajax, even though the physios won’t make their mind up until the day of the game.
Shaqiri, Thiago and Milner have no chance of being involved, stated Klopp, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is making good progress with his recovery.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold, arguably the most important of all the injured players, is progressing well and could be involved soon. That’s tremendous news and a return we’ll all be able to celebrate when the time comes.