This morning, many believed that Daniel Sturridge would be on the bench for the Everton clash tomorrow and that captain Jordan Henderson is on the verge of a return too – but both these suggestions are false.
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Jurgen Klopp was at Melwood this lunchtime answering questions ahead of the Merseyside Derby and stated in no uncertain terms that neither are available and that Henderson won’t be ready next weekend, either.
On Sturridge the boss said: “No chance. I heard he was back to training but I don’t know who gave this information. He is working with the rehab coach. No chance this weekend.”
On Henderson, he was just as damning: “Unfortunately he is not in team training right now. I can’t say for how long. Next week it doesn’t look like this too. So we have to wait.”
With Adam Lallana also out, that’s three starting England internationals we have unavailable, which is verging on an injury crisis. Roberto Firmino starts ahead of Sturridge though, while Emre Can has been decent in place of Henderson – so the absence of Lallana is the only really damaging injury.
Everton have a number of players out themselves, including Ramiro Funes Mori, Morgan Schneiderlin and Seamus Coleman.
Perhaps our best chance of getting through Everton’s defence is putting Coutinho up against Mason Holgate, the 20-year-old who’s likely to deputise for the Irish right-back.