Liverpool are sweating the fitness of five star players ahead of their West Ham clash on Sunday. New signing Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Joe Gomez will undergo late fitness tests to determine if they will make the matchday squad.
Liverpool to get an early test in West Ham clash
While five players are fighting for fitness, it has already been revealed that the Reds will be without defenders Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan. The Reds’ defence has been rocked by fitness issues and West Ham’s strike corp of Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez, and Felipe Anderson could take advantage of the situation.
Henderson and Alexander-Arnold both reported to Melwood late following the World Cup. There is worry neither player could play a full 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Fabinho is suffering from the flu.
Gomez and Matip both missed the end of last season for Liverpool with injuries. The pair trained on Thursday, but could only complete part of the session due to muscle issues.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp addressed the media on Friday ahead of Sunday’s West Ham clash. He spoke about the team’s fitness and each player’s possibility of playing.
“The [Fabinho’s] scan was clear. It was only a check-up and the scan was clear, but he felt ill when he came back so we sent him home again,” Klopp said in his press conference. “Obviously he was not feeling really well so we sent him home again and I didn’t see him so far and I didn’t ask anybody, so we will see.
“They [Henderson, Alexander-Arnold and Lovren] are all in a different shape, if you want. Trent is a bit longer in, which is good, Hendo in and full of power but not too long in – now three or four days, but it’s Hendo so you always think about him. Dejan will not be available for the weekend, that’s how it is.
“Anything else? We will see. We have not big issues but these little things where we have to think about is it a risk or not? And if it’s a risk, do we take it or not and all that stuff.
“At the en,d I’m pretty sure we will have a fantastic football team on the pitch and hopefully I have to make a few decisions. It looks like in the moment that a few players are not involved, but that’s how it is.
“Ragnar, no real chance, he didn’t train. Joel did yesterday parts of training like Joe did – we will see how they are today.”
Liverpool host West Ham on Sunday before playing Crystal Palace a week from Monday at Selhurst Park.
