Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson remain sidelined for Liverpool as the Reds host Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool host Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday, when they have a chance to get one step closer to clinching a place in the Top 4. Meanwhile, Palace would be looking to cause another big upset and take a significant leap towards safety.
With a return to the Champions League getting ever closer for Jurgen Klopp’s men, here’s the team news for the hosts ahead of Sunday’s encounter.
The report on that front is not very positive, as the Liverpool boss has a number of injury concerns on his hands. In fact, Klopp confirmed that he could be without the services of as many as eight key first team players ahead of the visit of Sam Allardyce’s men.
Klopp on Lallana: “Adam is in a good way working with the rehab coach. He should be back in full training next week.” #LFC pic.twitter.com/qvFrelSHMQ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 20, 2017
The biggest of the absentees are Adam Lallana and club captain Jordan Henderson, with the game coming too soon for the English duo. Lallana has been out of action since the end of March, having sustained a thigh injury while on international duty with England.
The midfielder has returned to training this week, but is still some way off rejoining his teammates in full training. Meanwhile, Henderson has been on the sidelines for nearly two months now, due to a broken foot, and is yet to rejoin training, meaning he is unlikely to feature again before the beginning of May at the very least.
“Adam [is] on a good way, back on the pitch but still with the rehab coach, so nothing changed there,” Klopp said on Lallana during his pre-match press conference. “[He] should be involved – not sure exactly when – next week in normal training. Wednesday, Thursday, something like this.”
When asked about Henderson’s situation, Klopp had nothing new to add as he said: “Still nothing new. In this moment, he cannot really train, so we have to wait for this moment.”
Lallana and Henderson aren’t the only two players who are on the treatment table, though, as the likes of Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and Lucas Leiva are all doubtful with muscle problems.
Klopp on defensive issues: “Lucas, Matip and Klavan are not in training at the moment. Joe Gomez has made big steps in the past few weeks.” pic.twitter.com/FGsU6wuAon
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 20, 2017
Providing the update on the trio’s availability, Klopp said: “[We have] a few little things from the last game, it doesn’t make it much easier. Little bit muscle problems, Joel Matip, Lucas Leiva [and] still a problem with Ragnar Klavan.
“It’s not 100 per cent that Lucas cannot play, it’s not 100 per cent that Joel cannot play, it’s not 100 per cent that Ragnar cannot play.”
If Matip and Klavan fail to recover in time for Palace’s arrival, inexperienced defender Joe Gomez could get a place in the starting lineup, partnering Dejan Lovren at the heart of the Liverpool defence. Sadio Mane and Danny Ings (both knee), meanwhile will not feature again for the Reds this season.
The unavailability of these many key first team players certainly piles on the pressure on Klopp on Sunday, and Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino will have to shoulder the burden to lead Liverpool to a crucial win at Anfield.
