Klopp provides fitness update on eight players ahead of Arsenal
Liverpool are checking on the fitness of Jordan Henderson and Andy Robertson ahead of Saturday’s clash with Arsenal, while Sadio Mane is fit and available, explained Jürgen Klopp.
All three sustained issues while representing their countries during the international break, with Henderson and Robertson now working to be in contention to face the Gunners.
Mane has already been training with the Reds squad this week, however, and is ‘fine’ as he completes his recovery from a rib complaint on Senegal duty.
“Robbo was lucky, we can probably say. It was a little bit DOMS, the intensity of all the games he played probably, rather than anything else,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com on Thursday.
“He was smart enough to [make] the right decision, he went off early, which he usually is not doing. But in this case it was absolutely right, and so there’s a good chance that he can be involved at the weekend.
“Hendo, a little bit more [injured] than Robbo but a chance for the weekend. So we are working on that. It’s not a serious injury but in this short period of time we have to see if he is ready for Saturday. But after that, 100 per cent, and possibly for Arsenal as well.
“Sadio is fine – painful but fine. Everybody who had a rib bruise knows it’s an annoying thing. But Sad trained here with us now in all sessions.
“We took him out a little bit earlier here and there when we knew now it will be full contact, stuff like this, just to give it a bit more time to settle. But he looks fine.”
The weekend’s teatime kick-off against Arsenal definitely comes too soon for Roberto Firmino, Joe Gomez, Naby Keita and James Milner, though.
Those four were sidelined before the pause for international fixtures and are not yet being considered for matches despite positive progress.
“So Joe is obviously still not available. He is in a good way and it looks pretty good. It was clear he will need a few weeks and that’s still [the case], the rehab is not finished. But in a good place actually,” said the boss.
“Naby and James are in a good way as well, getting closer. Probably next week we expect them being back in team training, let’s see what that means for the Porto game – but not for the weekend, they are not available.
“Bobby [is] getting closer but not for the weekend. We’ll see, that will take a little bit longer still.”
Klopp also provided an update on Curtis Jones with the midfielder set to be sidelined for several more weeks as Liverpool take a careful and cautious approach regarding the eye injury he recently suffered.
“I thought I saw all injuries as a manager, but that was really a freak one. He was very lucky – very lucky – in the end because we all know with the eye there’s no jokes about that, let me say it like this,” he said.
“He is good, he is just not allowed to do a lot of things in the moment, we have to wait until the doctors give us a green light. Curtis is completely fine, he has his eyesight back, all these kinds of things, but the eye is still recovering.”