Liverpool suffered a double blow defensively after Jurgen Klopp went without Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate for their Premier League clash against Brentford on Sunday. The Reds had already suffered several midfield injuries before the game and the absence of two centre-backs has left Klopp raw for the match at Anfield looking to bounce back from his midweek defeat.
Gomez started against Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday and played the full 90 minutes in France as a much-changed Liverpool suffered a shock 3-2 defeat. But it looks like the 26-year-old took a slight knock and couldn’t. not in time to be considered as for selection.
Konate was also present in the team, but was left out of the starting eleven and was unable to enter the field. The Frenchman was also hampered by a minor injury and was excluded from the squad as a precaution.
Ahead of the Brentford game, Klopp revealed that the pair had separate injury problems and the 55-year-old admitted he knew how long they would be out of action.
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“Yes, either of us was injured as well,” the German told Sky Sports, when asked about his absence. “We’ll see how serious it is. But they won’t be available today, so that’s the explanation for the changes.
“At this part of the season, a lot of groups are struggling a little bit from injuries. It’s the same for us right now, so it is what it is and we have to deal with it, and we do. So far, this week “I must say it’s not what we dreamed of. Two effects we don’t like, two performances we weren’t very satisfied with. “
Losing the pair represents a huge blow for Klopp as he looked to rotate his team to keep them fresh. Instead, it was decided that Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip would start, with rising star Jarell Quansah on the bench as substitutes.
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Klopp was forced to call up an incredibly young bench, with only Luis Diaz over the age of 20 among the nine substitutes. He has made 4 adjustments since the 1-1 draw with Luton, with Van Dijk, Matip, Kostas Tsimikas and Wataru Endo. in the squadron.
Alexis Mac Allister misses the game through suspension, so Cody Gakpo was able to start in midfield with Endo occupying the number 6 position previously occupied by the Argentine.
With Thiago Alcantara, Stejan Bajcetic, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson already injured, Klopp was forced to turn to teenagers to complete his 20-man squad.
If they can improve their home record 100 per cent this season, Liverpool will switch points on the problems with Arsenal and Manchester City before the overseas break.
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