Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is facing additional squad issues ahead of the team’s FA Cup clash against Southampton. Already dealing with the absence of up to 13 senior players, Klopp revealed that illness has further affected his squad. The Reds’ injury list is extensive and not a pleasant sight to behold.
Among the players still unavailable are Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Darwin Nunez. Additionally, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo suffered injuries in Sunday’s League Cup win. It is expected that Endo will only miss Wednesday’s match. However, Klopp expressed frustration over illness, which has affected Andy Robertson and may limit Alexis Mac Allister’s playing time from the bench.
Klopp explained the team’s struggles in a conversation with ITV, stating, “We tried to recover and find a team for tonight. [We had] a couple of problems added on. Ryan [Gravenberch] was clear. Endo cannot play. Robbo got ill and Macca was ill yesterday, he came back this morning. We’ll see how long he can do.”
Despite being seen with the team earlier in the day, Robertson did not make the matchday squad. Kostas Tsimikas took his place in the strong backline instead. Mac Allister, on the other hand, is among the substitutes, which also include several academy players. Whether or not Mac Allister will be able to play remains uncertain.
Considering a league fixture scheduled for Saturday, it is not surprising that Klopp made six changes for the Southampton match. Three of these changes were enforced, and it wouldn’t be unexpected to see players like Virgil van Dijk and Harvey Elliott taken off early to avoid exhausting them after their 120-minute performance on Sunday.
The match also marks a special evening for 18-year-old Lewis Koumas, who will be making his debut for Liverpool after being named in the matchday squad on three previous occasions.
In conclusion, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is facing additional squad issues due to injuries and illness ahead of the team’s FA Cup clash against Southampton. Despite the challenges, Klopp is determined to find a suitable team for the match and hopes that his players will recover in time. The inclusion of academy players and the debut of Lewis Koumas adds an element of excitement to the game. It remains to be seen how these challenges will affect Liverpool’s performance on the pitch.