Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool seem to be a cursed side at the moment as their every effort towards reviving their season is being dealt with a massive set-back. The Reds were humbled by a rampant Arsenal side which collected their 8th win in 9 league games to reclaim the top-spot. A game where the Gunners thrice led, and Liverpool could only respond twice, Klopp had to deal with multiple troubles in his team.
A Liverpool team which is already marred with a number of injuries, further saw two more players pick knocks against Arsenal. While Luiz Diaz was forced off even before the half-time, Trent Alexander-Arnold followed him in the dugout at half-time. Miseries are just piling up on the Reds, who are now a staggering 14 points behind leaders Arsenal. They currently sit 10th in the table, and their title challenge looks all but over this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s list of injured players seems to growing only
Liverpool already have three of their players, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the treatment table, and Luiz Diaz and Alexander-Arnold have only added to the list. The two were Liverpool’s focal point against the Gunners, creating loads of problems from wither wings. The Colombian winger even collected an assist before going off, nicely setting up Darwin Nunez to smash in an equalizer. On the other hand, the England international too troubled Arsenal’s left flank as his teammate Mohamed Salah was being kept quiet by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
However, Diaz’s a nasty collision with Thomas Partey in the 40th minute was it as the replay showed the Arsenal midfielder fell awkwardly on the winger’s knee. Diaz was seen holding his knee in absolute pain as that was it for the 25-year-old. Roberto Firmino replace Diaz as he went down the tunnel for further treatment. Alexander-Arnold did complete the first 45 minutes, but again had to come-off during a half-time change.
Jurgen Klopp then revealed the extent of the duo’s injuries in his post-match presser, as he confirmed the knocks “didn’t look good”. Talking to the media, the German said:
“Lucho [Luis Diaz] we had to change before [half-time]. [It’s] something with the knee, not good. He will have a scan and then we will know more. I have no idea about the extent and then on top of that Trent is bad as well with the ankle.
“[Alexander-Arnold] twisted the ankle, not good. Trent never, in seven years, went off if he could have played on. He was in too much pain, it started swelling immediately, so we will have to see.”
Injuries to two of the Liverpool’s key players then swung the game in favour of Arsenal, who retook the lead through Bukayo Saka in the added time of the first-half. While Firmino did bring Reds on level in the 53rd minute, it was Thiago Alcantara’s silly challenge on Gabriel Jesus in the Liverpool penalty area which forced referee Michael Oliver to quickly point towards the spot.
Saka then once again stood up to the challenge and slotted in his penalty in the 76th minute to give the Gunners all three points. Jurgen Klopp cut a confused figure as well in his presser on the penalty decision while accusing Jesus of “making it up”. However, what was more disheartening for the Liverpool fans, Klopp conceded the title challenge after falling 14 points behind Arsenal and 13 adrift of Manchester City. Nonetheless, the Reds will now turn their attention to Champions League as they face Rangers away this mid-week, with an injury-hit squad.