Double injury boost as Liverpool pair play in friendly
Liverpool have been handed a double injury boost as a pair have returned to play a behind-closed-doors friendly.
Losses against Everton, Leicester City and Manchester City have shown that the Reds don’t have the required squad depth to compete at the highest level this season.
When Jurgen Klopp looked at his bench against the Toffies and saw only Divock Origi, sitting there waiting to be summoned, his heart must have sunk.
Liverpool have no options
Compared to some other clubs, Liverpool hasn’t got much in reserve if Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino or Mohamed Salah aren’t firing. There’s even less with Diogo Jota injured and Xherdan Shaqiri untrusted.
But our injury crisis doesn’t appear to be isolated within the first-team environment. The Echo has reported that the U23 side have been handed a boost as Paul Glatzel and Abdi Sharif have appeared in a friendly as they bid to regain fitness.
Liverpool’s second string defeated Salford City 3-1. Glatzel featured for the first hour, his first action since hurting his ankle ligaments a month before Christmas. Sharif had been out since December and made his first appearance and was taken off with 20 minutes remaining.
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After falling behind, the U23s were able to draw level thanks to a Joe Hardy goal before Layton Stewart’s strike put them ahead. Billy Koumetio put the icing on the cake following a corner.
The first team could do with a few stricken stars coming back before it’s too late. This run of poor form doesn’t look like it’s threatening to ease up, and Klopp could find this team struggling to catch up to West Ham in fourth if they don’t pick up points against Sheffield United.
There is some good news, however. Diogo Jota appears to be close to first-team training, while we may even see Fabinho back in action next to Ozan Kabak.