Liverpool have released an update on player injuries ahead of their Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea on Wednesday. Manager Jurgen Klopp is sweating the fitness of several key players ahead of Chelsea’s visit. Following their Carabao Cup clash, the two Premier League rivals will meet in the league on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool injury update ahead of Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea
According to reports on Wednesday, Dejan Lovren and Dominic Solanke could be available for Wednesday night’s match. Klopp will still be without Adam Lallana and Divock Origi, however. The two attackers are still battling back from injuries that have kept them on the sidelines for the last few weeks.
Meanwhile, centre-back Virgil van Dijk is struggling for fitness ahead of the midweek game. Liverpool are being careful with the defender after he left last weekend’s win over Southampton early in the second half. Van Dijk will not be rushed with the importance of the weekend fixture overshadowing the Carabao Cup game.
Klopp addressed Van Dijk’s possible exclusion from Liverpool’s Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea.
“He is much better. It is still a bit painful, nothing else,” Klopp said.
“Painful is already not too cool, so we will see how we deal with that. But it’s already better. How we thought after the game, it’s not too serious but it’s not nothing.
“So that needs to settle, for sure. I didn’t speak to him [yet] today so we will see how he comes here today and then we’ll make a decision about him.”
Klopp on other injuries
Klopp spoke about the returns of both Lovren and Solanke at his pre-match press conference.
“Dejan looks actually quite good. He trained completely normally now four times,” Klopp said.
“He had a very intense period before that; he trained with the fitness guys already for 10 days or so before we took him then in normal training. So he looks ready.”
Both Lallana and Origi could be available for selection for Liverpool’s trip to Stamford Bridge at the weekend.
“Divock is not far away but it’s an ankle thing and a very unfortunate situation,” Klopp said.
“We will be very careful – the ankle was the problem he had after the Everton game years ago. He will be back, I’m pretty sure, next week but not now.
“Adam trained with the team, not the full session but will now come back step by step. About tomorrow, I don’t know, but it will not be that long anymore – he is in a good way.”
Liverpool are currently two points ahead of both Manchester City and Chelsea in the Premier League table.
