Liverpool facing double disciplinary wait as two January exits move nearer
Liverpool have two players who face the danger of being suspended for the New Year’s Day clash against Newcastle United in Premier League
Liverpool will have two players walking a disciplinary tightrope when they take on Burnley on Boxing Day.
Wataru Endo picked up a fourth Premier League booking of the campaign in the 1-1 home draw against Arsenal on Saturday to move within one more yellow card of a suspension.
Darwin Nunezput himself in a similar situation when he reached the same number of cautions during the dismal goalless draw with Manchester United at Anfield the previous weekend.
However, the trip to Turf Moor represents the final game before the disciplinary amnesty in the Premier League, which is introduced after a team’s 19th match – the halfway point of the season. After that, a player has to accrue 10 yellow cards to earn a one-match suspension.
It means that if Endo and Nunez successfully avoid a yellow or red card at Burnley, they will be available for the visit of Newcastle United on New Year’s Day.
Under Premier League rules, being awarded 10 yellow cards by the 32nd game week results in a two-game suspension, while players are handed a three-match ban if given 15 bookings before the end of the season.
Regardless of any suspensions, Endo will be absent for up to five weeks after the clash with Newcastle as he departs to represent Japan in the Asia Cup. Liverpool could also be missing Mohamed Salah for the same length of time, with the winger leaving for Africa Cup of Nations duty for Egypt.
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January could be a busier month for Jurgen Klopp than he intended as Liverpool wrestle with a number of injury problems as they bid to mount a title charge over the back half of the season
Liverpool may still be licking their wounds that they’re not sat on the top of the tree on Christmas Day.
But if Saturday’s draw with Arsenal will have done anything for the Reds, it will no doubt have given them confidence that they can claim their second Premier League title as they head into 2024. While the spoils were shared with the league leaders, a dubious penalty call and the clang of the Arsenal crossbar was all that separated Jurgen Klopp’s side from taking top spot for the Christmas festivities.
With a Boxing Day clash against Burnley to come, Liverpool can hardly rest on their laurels. But Klopp may have some other pressing matters on his agenda with the January transfer window just a week away from opening.
Here are the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around Anfield.
Klopp hints at possible transfer
Jurgen Klopp admitted he hadn’t had time to think Liverpool’s left-back crisis through yet, in a hint he could be tempted to sign a new recruit in the January transfer window.
Kostas Tsimikas suffered a broken collarbone against Arsenal and will now be sidelined for an extended period, while Andy Robertson is still yet to recover from his shoulder problem, leaving Joe Gomez to fill in as auxiliary left-back.
“Can Joe play all the games now until I don’t know when? I don’t know, we’ll have to see,” said Klopp. “Robbo will be back (next month) and Kostas will be definitely out for a long while. I didn’t have time to think it through yet, but it is really tough for us now.
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“You have injuries sometimes and you have to accept all of them, but a broken collarbone is really bad because it takes so long to heal. Robbo had a different injury, but it takes a long time to recover as well. We all know we need luck in these moments and now we have to just make sure we put Joey in cotton wool and make sure he is ready for the game.”
With Robertson back soon, it’s perhaps more likely that Klopp will stick with Gomez until the Scot returns. Instead, Liverpool might consider bringing in a new centre-back in January as a long-term replacement for Joel Matip, while also providing extra cover centrally while Gomez fills in on the left.
Reds ‘make enquiry’
Speaking of centre-backs, Liverpool have reportedly lodged an enquiry with Fluminense regarding captain Nino.
The 26-year-old is a key player for the Brazilian club and featured in their Club World Cup final defeat to Manchester City a few days ago. Klopp may look to add defensive reinforcements sooner rather than later with Matip’s contract expiring in the summer and Gomez now set to deputise for the injured Robertson and Tsimikas at left-back.
According to reports from Sportitalia (via Liverpool Transfer Room) , Liverpool are one of several clubs to have made contact with Fluminense to determine Nino’s availability. His current contract is due to expire at the end of 2024, which could help Liverpool land him for a reduced price.
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