Liverpool have had selection headaches in recent weeks due to injuries. However, manager Jurgen Klopp has soothed supporters’ fears with the news that the club’s injured stars will be fit within the next two weeks.
Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, and Virgil van Dijk are all set to return in the next fortnight. Their returns will give Liverpool the high-quality depth they lacked in Monday night’s FA Cup loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The team’s FA Cup exit saw Fabinho and 16-year-old Ki-Jana Hoever play at centre-back. Despite the pair playing well, Liverpool still crashed out of the cup, losing 2-1.
Liverpool will face off with Brighton on Saturday on the south coast. Klopp hinted at Matip, who suffered a broken collarbone against Napoli in the Champions League, could return against the Seagulls.
The Reds defeated Brighton in their earlier meeting, 1-0, but endured a late flurry from the south coast club. Alisson Becker’s late save preserved Liverpool’s win.
Klopp’s side is four points ahead of Manchester City in the Premier League table with 17 games left to play.
Liverpool’s defensive situation
Some Liverpool supporters were surprised the club allowed right-back Nathaniel Clyne to leave on loan. However, the FA Cup performances of Hoever and Rafael Camacho has soothed some of the worries fans expressed.
Liverpool have their deepest group of defenders for some time as Klopp’s options at the back are the best they have been since he arrived.
With the combination of youthful, fit defenders, he felt Clyne would benefit from a loan at Bournemouth.
Making Clyne’s loan even more appealing to Liverpool were the financials of the deal. Bournemouth agreed to pay a loan fee and cover all of the player’s salary, according to the Liverpool Echo.
One Liverpool player that will remain on the injured list is Nat Phillips. The centre-back had impressed in preseason and it was believed he would get a chance to play this term for the first-team.
However, Phillips has struggled with injury and recently underwent ankle surgery. The 21-year-old isn’t expected back until April.
