Jurgen Klopp gives much anticipated injury update

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is hopeful.

Centre-back Joel Matip sat out the second half of the Fulham draw on Sunday, but the German thinks the former Schalke man will be available to start in the midweek clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

This Premier League game holds great significance in the title race. The winner has a chance to create a gap at the top of the table – something which will be precious going into the second half of December where the games come thick and fast.

Other than a Spurs team that is surely going to sit back and hit on the counter, Liverpool has another possible headache.

Liverpool’s only fit senior centre-back was substituted at half-time during the 1-1 draw against Fulham. The reason, a back spasm. There is great hope that his substitution was more precautionary to ensure that he does not miss crucial games during the winter period.

Matip will now undergo treatment at Kirkby. He will play a key role against Spurs to keep the prolific duo of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son at bay.

Fans need to be prepared to see either of the three possible partnerships at centre-back for Liverpool. The likely options include Fabinho-Rhys Williams; Fabinho- Nat Phillips or Fabinho-Jordan Henderson.

It has to be said that with the number of injury problems Liverpool have, they started the season very well. However, in-form Diogo Jota is the latest to move from the training ground into the treatment room with a long term injury to the knee expected to keep him out for at least two months.

Left-back Kostas Tsimikas picked up a similar issue in the Champions League game and that will leave Andy Robertson with a lot of football to play with no much recovery time.

The return of Alex Oxlade Chamberlin is a breath of fresh air. He could make an impact in the game against Spurs. We just hope that his injury woes are now behind him.