Liverpool FC could be in a bit of trouble after the Merseyside Derby damaged the team a fair bit as Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Lucas Leiva are doubts for the Spurs game.
Fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur visit Anfield on Tuesday and this is an absolute must win game for Brendan Rodgers’ side as Mauricio Pochettino’s side is in great form at the moment and lies four points ahead of the Reds in the race for Champions League qualification. Both sides want to finish in the top 4 and are gaining momentum after bad starts to the season. Spurs come into this game at the back of a confidence boosting victory over local rivals Arsenal, in the North London Derby. Meanwhile the hosts are also in a good run at the moment, but come into this game at the back of a stalemate against Everton which meant they dropped two points. Winning the game against Spurs, who are direct rivals for the top 4 spots, would be extremely crucial if Rodgers’ side wants to ensure the Champions League spots don’t get too out of reach. But chances of that happening look a little shaky now that it is revealed that three of the most important members of the Liverpool team in recent, resurgent times, could miss the game with injuries.
Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho will both have fitness tests after limping off at Goodison against Everton. Lucas Leiva will undergo a scan on the thigh problem that forced him out just 16 minutes into the match and looks set to be out for a longer time than the other two. Lucas would be a huge miss for the Reds as the Brazilian’s contribution in the last month or so cannot be understated. Welshman Joe Allen is likely to fill in for the 28 year old.
Rodgers said, a The only downfall of being in cup competitions is the number of games, but whatever happens with injuries to players the squad will be better for the experience.
a If we are playing one game a week we are not in cup competitions and not doing as well as we would want.
a We want the games to come, this is a challenging year, but we will be better when we come out of this year and so will the players.
a Phil Coutinho had a knock on his knee and Raheem had a knock on his foot. We had fresh players on the bench to bring on and hopefully they will be fit for Tuesday.a
Adam Lallana missed the derby, but Rodgers said that the ex-Southampton captain could make a return against his former Saints boss, a We need to see how he is but he has a big possibility for Tuesday.a