World News – GB – Liverpool face nervous wait over Fabinho injury

The Reds' defensive injuries worsened in their 2-0 win over Midtjylland

CAMEROON MAGAZINE - GM28/10/20202 Mins read66 Views

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was unsure of the severity of Fabinho’s injury after the Brazilian left in the first half of the 2-0 home game win over Midtjylland in the Champions League

The Reds’ last defensive setback came around the half hour mark when Fabinho – again playing at center-back in the absence of Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip – had to be substituted after stopping in current

When asked afterwards what the first signs were in terms of the severity of Fabinho’s injury, Klopp said: “I don’t know You know muscle injuries are like that – you get the result , but tomorrow morning probably So we have to wait for that «

Van Dijk and Matip were both injured in the 2-2 draw at Everton on October 17 – the first a knee problem that is expected to put him on the sidelines for several months

When asked if Matip could be available for Saturday’s home clash with West Ham, Klopp said: « I don’t know, we have to see »

Fabinho has been replaced by 19-year-old Rhys Williams, who made his fourth senior appearance and has yet to play in the Premier League

Klopp said of Williams: « He did really well. The only problem we have now is we have four days for the West Ham game and you will make a fuss of him every day and then he has to prove that he can also cope with this, because the mood was calm around him »

Referring to other options on the sidelines of his squad, Klopp also mentioned Nathaniel Phillips and Billy Koumetio and said: “We have some very young and inexperienced alternatives, and at the moment it looks like we have to pick one.

« I don’t know yet – but to be really clear and positive Rhys wasn’t in a unique situation tonight, our problem, he played a really good game »

Klopp – who confirmed his half-time withdrawal from Jordan Henderson was as he planned ahead of the game – chose not to start with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino for the squad contest Champions League D

What followed was a disappointing first half display from the hosts as they failed to register a shot on target

Diogo Jota then put Liverpool in the lead in the 55th minute with a close-range finish, and after Midtjylland almost equalized twice, Salah – after joining Mane on time – added a penalty in the break time

Asked by a Danish journalist if the changes he made were a sign of underestimating visitors, Klopp said: ‘If you looked at Liverpool a bit more you would know how our situation is and you wouldn’t think that is the case today a sign to disregard Midtjylland

« The line-up we chose was to show the respect we had for Midtjylland as we desperately needed fresh legs

« I think if you watched the match you saw that we needed every new step we could get, and with the five possible changes we could then finish the game »

Despite two wins in two matches for Liverpool in the pool, group stage debutants Midtjylland suffered two losses

But boss Brian Priske was optimistic after the game, in which Anders Dreyer and Evander almost scored

« I am happy with our performance We have shown the others and the world that we are able to compete with these guys, » he said.

« Whether a few of the star players haven’t left or not, we’ve shown the world that we can compete here in the Champions League, and I think we’ve played well »

Champions League

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Champions League

Soccer