With the return of Jordan Henderson, Mamadou Sakho, and James Milner, Liverpool's injury crisis appears to be easing once again, but problems still persist, and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has today confirmed that two of the club's senior players are still not ready for first-team action.
When asked during his pre-match press conference today whether Dejan Lovren* or Daniel Sturridge (both hailed as 'outstanding' by Rodgers and Klopp respectively) will feature against Manchester United, Klopp simply replied: 'No'.
On Thursday, Lovren claimed that he is 'close' to a first-team return, and predicted he'd make it 'this week', but it looks like that isn't going to happen.
In Sturridge's case, this is hardly surprising, but it's still a major concern, especially given the fact he recently claimed publicly that he's 'fit and raring to go'.
Clearly, that was wishful thinking from Sturridge, who has made just six appearances since April 2015.
There also appears to be a slight concern over Mamadou Sakho's fitness.
When asked about whether Sakho 'made it through' the Arsenal game unscathed, Klopp hesitated for a good ten seconds (and projected doubt with his body language) before answering 'yes'.
After Sturridge, Sakho is one of Liverpool most injury prone players, so if he's struggling to maintain his fitness then it's pretty much par for the course.
In my view, Steven Caulker should come in for Sakho against Man United. Arsenal was a tough, draining game, and playing Sakho twice in four days is just asking for trouble.
* Cost Liverpool £20m.
Author: Jaimie K
When asked during his pre-match press conference today whether Dejan Lovren* or Daniel Sturridge (both hailed as 'outstanding' by Rodgers and Klopp respectively) will feature against Manchester United, Klopp simply replied: 'No'.
On Thursday, Lovren claimed that he is 'close' to a first-team return, and predicted he'd make it 'this week', but it looks like that isn't going to happen.
In Sturridge's case, this is hardly surprising, but it's still a major concern, especially given the fact he recently claimed publicly that he's 'fit and raring to go'.
Clearly, that was wishful thinking from Sturridge, who has made just six appearances since April 2015.
There also appears to be a slight concern over Mamadou Sakho's fitness.
When asked about whether Sakho 'made it through' the Arsenal game unscathed, Klopp hesitated for a good ten seconds (and projected doubt with his body language) before answering 'yes'.
After Sturridge, Sakho is one of Liverpool most injury prone players, so if he's struggling to maintain his fitness then it's pretty much par for the course.
In my view, Steven Caulker should come in for Sakho against Man United. Arsenal was a tough, draining game, and playing Sakho twice in four days is just asking for trouble.
* Cost Liverpool £20m.
Author: Jaimie K
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