Jurgen Klopp’s best friend David Wagner isn’t especially sympathetic of Liverpool’s current injury problems!
In fact, he doesn’t believe we actually have very many – despite the plethora of players who’ve returned from international duty early.
SEE MORE:
Paul Joyce reveals who Klopp actually wanted as Van Dijk alternative
Sadio Mane broke his thumb with Senegal, Virgil van Dijk came home early from Netherlands duty due to his broken ribs, Naby Keita was piggy-backed off the pitch for Guinea and flown home due to a hamstring issue and Mo Salah injured his groin with Egypt.
Wagner though thinks the complications have been exaggerated.
“I have known Jurgen long enough, I know he loves to use smoke screens. I expect that most of his players will be available,” he told a press-conference today, cited by the Metro.
In fairness, we wouldn’t expect Wagner to worry about Liverpool’s injuries, considering the quality of players available to us and available to him. And you know he’s only being half serious, anyway!
We reckon Mane, Salah and van Dijk will be fine, but would be mighty surprised if Keita started.
As a result, Adam Lallana could come back into the fold for the first time this season, or perhaps Klopp will trust Fabinho – his multimillion pound signing who’s so far been stuck to the bench.
Whoever starts, nothing less than a win will be considered acceptable is we’re serious about our Premier League title challenge.