Mueez Ajao
– Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said on Friday a mounting injury list at the club was a concern but added he would not splurge in the transfer market just for the sake of strengthening his squad.
– Liverpool, who were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw by newly promoted Fulham on the opening weekend, have been hit with injuries to several key players, including Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota, Ibrahima Konate and Kostas Tsimikas.
– “We have injuries, that’s how it is. It is a question of how long will the players be out,” Klopp said ahead of Monday’s game against Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Also Read: Thiago to be sidelined for weeks with hamstring injury
– “There are different solutions for it. One of them is the transfer market. That only makes sense if we can bring in the right player — the right player, not a player. In some cases it is not possible, in other cases extremely difficult.”
Klopp on signing new midfielder: “It has to be the right player, not just a player. If we had the right solution then we would have done it already. We are not stubborn”. 🔴 #LFC
“We have had a lot of conversations already and it doesn't look like anything will happen”. pic.twitter.com/LMjKDIII4B
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2022
– Tsimikas will return to training later on Friday while Keita is expected to be back on Monday. Thiago, a crucial figure in central midfield, is likely to be out for four to six weeks after injuring his hamstring against Fulham.
– “All the other solutions are inside the squad… if we had the right solution [in the transfer market] then we would have done it already. We are not stubborn,” Klopp said.
– The absences offer an opportunity for young midfielder Harvey Elliott, who signed a new long-term contract at Anfield on Thursday.
– “He is a fantastic boy and a super player,” Klopp added. “He had a good pre-season and is always in contention to start… of course he is [in my plans].
– The German bemoaned his side’s slow start against Fulham and said they needed to be switched on from the outset against Palace, who fell to a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal in their season opener.
– “It could be a warning sign, for sure,” Klopp said. “It felt like a loss and that’s how it felt when we left the stadium.
– “Having a slow start does not mean you will do it again but it is a sign so use it as information and go from there.”
