Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana could miss the exciting clash, while Klopp sweats over injured defenders and international stars.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp faces a potential injury crisis in the build-up to Monday’s showdown between the Reds and their arch rivals Man United.
Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum limped off with a hamstring injury during Holland’s 1-0 defeat to France on Monday night and will undergo a scan this week. He is described by the Liverpool Echo as a “major doubt” for the match.
The 25-year-old Dutchman, whose arrival this summer was greeted with scepticism in some quarters, “has been ever-present for Jurgen Klopp’s team in the Premier League this season and settled impressively in central midfield following his £25m summer transfer from Newcastle United,” reports The Guardian.
If he fails to recover then Emre Can is likely to take his place in midfield.
This may not be the only change forced upon Klopp ahead of what is arguably his biggest league match since taking over at Anfield a year ago.
The Liverpool boss could also be without another ever present, Adam Lallana, who suffered a groin injury against Swansea that forced him to miss England’s World Cup qualifiers this week. “He has been receiving intensive treatment at Melwood during the international break in a bid to be fit for United but needs monitoring on a daily basis,” says the Guardian.
Two other key men, defenders Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren, were also injured in Liverpool’s last outing, but there is more positive news about them, says the Echo. Both “are expected to be fit for the visit of Jose Mourinho’s side, having made good progress since picking up knocks in the win at Swansea”.
But with Jordan Henderson skippering England tonight and Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino in action for Brazil on Wednesday (UK time), Klopp will still be biting his nails over some of his key performers.
Coutinho and Firmino, who both scored against Bolivia at the weekend, have the added pressure of a 5,000-mile journey back to the UK after their match in Venezuela and are not expected to return to Liverpool until Thursday. Coutinho was a substitute for Liverpool against Leicester after his last Brazil outing, although the South American pair will have longer to recover for the match against United that takes place on Monday.