Injury Update: Jurgen Klopp rules out Liverpool duo for Aston Villa clash on Sunday
The Transfer deadline day is finally here and it will be interesting to see if the Reds make any more additions after Ryan Gravenberch. While a Premier League clash between Liverpool and Aston Villa awaits on Sunday as the boss Jurgen Klopp provides the fans with an injury update.
The Merseysiders have started the 2023/24 campaign on a high tempo with 2 wins and a draw in their first 3 fixtures.
So far, we have seen a shaky Klopp squad in the initial games. With an imbalanced midfield in the kick-off game against Chelsea, the Reds went on to recruit Wataru Endo after missing out on primary targets in the name of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo.
But the holding-midfielder issue now looks to be settled with the incoming news suggesting the signing of the Bayern Munich midfielder.
Even after Gravenberch completes his medical today, he might not be ready for a start in the crucial Villa clash at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp provides injury update – Liverpool vs Aston Villa
In his pre-match press conference on Friday morning (via Liverpool Echo), Klopp remarked on the France defender, saying:
“Ibou, no, he will not be ready for the game.”
Klopp also objected to the continued absence of the Spain midfielder. However, Curtis Jones has returned to training ahead of Sunday’s game.
The German stated:
“Curtis is back in training fully. Thiago, not. Thiago had a little setback. He started training with the team and had a little setback so we have to slow down there a little bit.
It’s not cool for him, it’s not cool for us but it’s how it is. Thiago will use the international break for that, to be up to speed I’m pretty sure. It should hopefully be enough. All the rest are available.”
If Ryan is somehow registered in time to feature against Villa, that offers one midfield alternative to counter Thiago’s protracted absence.
The Spaniard is now expected to be back after the international break.
Klopp, on the other hand, cannot afford to be without Konate for the match on Sunday, especially with Virgil van Dijk suspended following his red card at St James’ Park, leaving Joe Gomez and Joel Matip as the only two experienced center-backs available.
That pair could face a difficult task in dealing with a dynamic Villans assault that includes Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey, and Moussa Diaby, not to mention the threat of Jhon Duran off the bench.
