Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says many of his players are “touch and go” ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Southampton, admitting they need a few “miracles” on the injury front.
Ryan Gravenberch was forced off in the first half of Sunday’s win over Chelsea in the EFL Cup final with a ligament injury, and won’t be available for Wednesday’s FA Cup home tie with the Saints. Wataru Endo was spotted walking on crutches after the game.
They join Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic on the treatment table.
“Ryan is not available,” Klopp revealed. “It is a ligament injury. It could have been worse, but it is bad enough to rule him out of this game, and the next game. We shall see.
“We need miracles for a few players, so I don’t want to rule them out for too long. But it is touch and go with a lot of the boys who were not available for the final.
“I wouldn’t say it is much improved, but that’s how it is.”
Klopp also provided an update on Thiago Alcantara that Liverpool fans won’t want to hear, as the German suggested the midfielder could be out for the rest of the season. That means he could have played his last game for the club, as his contract expires in the summer.
“No timescale [for his return]. I don’t know [if he will play again this season]. There are things he has to do now, but it is not a short term thing. He will not be training in the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic’s recovery is progressing after playing just twice since March, but he’s not ready to come back into the matchday squad yet.
“He’s gaining fitness now, running around, but he didn’t get the green light for team training,” Klopp said. “No one wants to hold him back, so there must be a reason why he doesn’t have the green light.”
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