Liverpool need slice of luck amid injury crisis, says Klopp
Liverpool will wrap Joe Gomez in cotton wool and pray the defender does not become yet another addition to the snowballing injury crisis at the Premier League club, manager Juergen Klopp said.
Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas sustained a broken collarbone in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday, leaving the Merseyside outfit with few options at left back, with first-choice defender Andy Robertson also sidelined due to a shoulder injury.
Gomez, who is right-footed, is likely to fill in at left back until Robertson returns.
“It is for us obviously really tough, it’s really tough. You have injuries sometimes and we accept all of them, but a broken collarbone is really bad because it just takes (so) long,” Klopp told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s clash against Burnley at Turf Moor.
“Same what Robbo (Robertson) had, a different injury but that takes long as well, how we all know.
“We all know we need luck in these moments to get through and now we will have Joey (Gomez) there and just have to make sure we put him in cotton wool and we have to make sure he is always ready for the games.”
Liverpool, second in the standings, next face 19th-placed Burnley, who beat Fulham 2-0 in their last league match to move off the bottom of the table.
Klopp said he believes Burnley are better than their results show. “I have watched quite a few Burnley games and I am pretty impressed by what they are doing – and on Saturday they got then the reward,” he said.
“We all know if you win once and you have a chance to play in three days again then you will want to win again and that’s exactly what we expect – and a pretty good atmosphere as well. We better be, and will be, ready.”
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The January transfer window is fast approaching and Liverpool find themselves in the thick of a Premier League title race despite back-to-back Anfield draws against Manchester United and Arsenal. The Reds will hope to finish 2023 strongly away at a rejuvenated Burnley on Boxing Day.
The transfer market then opens before Liverpool are next in action, on New Year’s Day, and the Merseyside club have the option to make additions to their squad until 11pm on Thursday 1st February.
Jurgen Klopp has strengthened his attack in the last two winter windows, signing Cody Gakpo from PSV for £37million plus add-ons at the start of 2023 after paying Porto £37m rising to a potential £50m for Luis Diaz in 2022.
So will the German utilise the mid-season market again this time around to help Liverpool in their quest to compete for the title and win trophies in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Europa League?
Express Sport runs you through all the latest Liverpool transfer gossip and news…
Jurgen Klopp caused a stir last week by labelling West Ham attacker Jarrod Bowen his “favourite player” outside of his Liverpool squad. Bowen’s team-mate Michail Antonio responded: “I think he’s trying to lay those seeds man, he wants Jarrod.
“He can lay the seeds all he likes mate. The man has just signed a seven-year deal bro, if he [Klopp] wants that, he can bring the money. Who’s he [Bowen] going to replace, obviously he plays on the right. Are you hinting at something here? Are you letting Salah go yeah?”
Bowen, who turned 27 last week, only signed a new seven-year contract with the Hammers in October and The Athletic reported at the time that there is no release clause in that deal. That came after rumours there was a £40m buy-out added into the agreement by Bowen’s team.
But Mark Noble, West Ham’s sporting director, has sparked fresh speculation about the attacker. Asked on TNT Sports if Bowen has a release clause, he replied: “I am not telling you.” Despite Klopp’s admiration for the England international, who has 11 goals in 17 Premier League games this term, any move for the right-sided player however seems unlikely – especially in January.
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Liverpool could add Fabio Carvalho and Nat Phillips to their first-team squad for the second half of the season. Carvalho has started just one of Leipzig’s 16 Bundesliga matches on loan in Germany. The Reds have now held talks with Leipzig about terminating the deal.
But Leipzig sporting director Rouven Schroder isn’t keen on the idea and said: “These are typical power games. Fabio has a contract until summer 2024, we’re absolutely happy with him. He will get his playing time.” It is unclear whether an agreement will be struck but Liverpool will be demanding more minutes for the 21-year-old for him to remain at Leipzig.
Centre-back Phillips, 26, has meanwhile spent six months at Celtic, starting just three of 19 Scottish Premiership matches. His loan was only agreed until January and the Hoops are not expected to try and extend his stay, which has been unsuccessful for club and player, beyond that.
He could act as Liverpool’s fifth-choice centre-back with Joel Matip out for the rest of the season. Rhys Williams, 22, could also be recalled. The towering defender was loaned out to Aberdeen but hasn’t once made the match-day squad for a league match but if he does head back to Merseyside, it seems likely he would be loaned out again to another club.
Andre Trindade deal ‘collapses’
Liverpool showed significant interest in Fluminense’s Andre Trindade in the summer but he refused a move to help their push to win the Copa Libertadores, which they did. Fluminense also reached the Club World Cup final but were thoroughly beaten by Manchester City.
The Brazilian midfielder admitted recently: “I watch Premier League and it’s a big dream to play there one day. My dream is clear, to be a Premier League player.” Yet Football Insider report that the Reds’ move for £30m-rated Andre – who was viewed as Thiago Alcantara’s potential successor – has ‘collapsed’.
That means he will not be realising his “dream” with Liverpool. But he might realise it with their Premier League rivals Fulham instead. It is claimed the Cottagers are in pole position to sign the 22-year-old, and that may mean he faces Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-finals (Wednesday 10th January and Weds 24th Jan).
Joao Palhinha move unlikely
With Andre headed to Craven Cottage, Fulham’s current defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha – who nearly joined Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day in the summer – could be on the move. But Klopp and co won’t be in the hunt for the Portuguese ball-winner’s signature, according to reports.
The Athletic say Liverpool believe their midfield is in good shape after signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo a few months ago. It is added that Palhinha is not the usual profile of player they would go for, particularly as he is 28 and would cost around £70m. Bayern could instead revive their interest.
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