Pool could be without Firmino for big PSG clash: Klopp
ROBERTO Firmino remains a doubt for Liverpool’s Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain tonight.
Firmino was forced off during the second half of Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur after being accidentally poked in the eye by Jan Vertonghen.
Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, still hopes to be able to call upon the Brazilian for his side’s opening Group C game at Anfield.
However, when asked whether Firmino (right) would definitely be available to play tonight, Klopp said: “No, not definitely. If we played today, no chance, but we all hope there is a chance for tomorrow.
“That is good news, that it will be close. When everyone saw the pictures after the game, we were all shocked.
“When we had first-hand contact with him, after he was in hospital, it was a big relief for all of us.
“It is painful and no one needs that but he will be fine — we just don’t know exactly when. Another 30 hours before the game? We will see how it develops.” If Firmino fails to recover in time, Daniel Sturridge is likely to take his place in Liverpool’s frontline and make the first Champions League start of his five-and-a-half-year spell with the club.
“He will be ready,” Klopp said of Sturridge, though the Liverpool man- ager finds himself down to the bare bones in attack after injuries to Dominic Solanke and Divock Origi.
“If Bobby can’t play, and Dom (Solanke) and Divock (Origi) can’t, then we are short of options. They got little injuries in the U23 game with Swansea. There is no problem with the first line-up.”
MAURICIO Pochettino insists Harry Kane deserves thanks rather than negativity.
Kane has been the subject of plenty of focus in recent weeks after a sluggish start to the season, where he has now gone four games without a goal.
He has not been at his dynamic best and there have been suggestions he is in need of a rest, with his former England coach Gary Neville leading the calls.
Kane has still scored twice this season after winning the Golden Boot at the World Cup in the summer and Pochettino insists his striker should be the toast of the club.
“Harry is a target,” he said. “It’s easy when he doesn’t score to start to talk about him. But Harry, after four years at the club, it’s time to say thank you to him. Of course he needs to improve, but the team needs to improve. It’s easy to blame Harry.
“He’s up front. If the team lose and we don’t score goals, it’s easy to blame him. It’s easy to analyse, to talk, it’s always about the perception and the reality.
“It can be the opposite at our club. For us, the perception versus the reality is too far away.
“I accepted that situation when I signed my contract more than four years ago.
“My challenge is to be better every day. When you see fans, every single person, every single team-mate of Harry needs to say thank you.”
Meanwhile, Pochettino says his side are not realistic contenders for any competition this season unless they improve considerably.
Spurs won their opening three games of the Premier League, including a 3-0 success at Manchester United, to raise expectations that they could be a real threat for trophies this term.
But they have since lost backto-back league games against Watford and Liverpool and Pochettino, whose side kick off their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan this evening, thinks they are way off being challengers.
He said: “We are not realistic contenders in any single competition, that is my view.
“If we show the same face as against Watford, it’s impossible to be a contender. If we show the face (we showed against) Liverpool, it will be so difficult.
“If we show some of what we did against Manchester United then maybe yes. I explained after Old Trafford it was difficult to keep the feet on the grass and believe that the job was done.
“But we need to work harder and be more competitive and improve. The last two defeats are a wake-up call and we have to try and improve and we have time. It is only the start of the season.
“We have to show our best and show we deserve to be a contender. We need to be consistent to be a contender.
“It is important for them to see the reality if they are going to improve. And if we are going to be a contender then we need to improve a lot.
“If not we will be a good team, we will win some and lose some, but a contender is different.
“In my mind if you want to be a contender you need to show much, much more. We won three games in a row and after went to Watford and Liverpool and were not capable, it is difficult to be considered a contender.”
Spurs travelled to Milan without injured trio Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko, while Pochettino has also chosen to surprisingly leave Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld in London.
On the pair’s omission, the Argentinian said: “It’s a technical decision. What does it mean? It’s a technical decision. You can look it up, find it in the dictionary. A technical decision. Tactical is on the pitch.
“You cannot bring 25 players. You can only play 11 with seven on the bench. That is the reason.
“You are clever enough to try to understand. This is my fifth season, I never punish players because you win or lose. There’s nothing behind the decision. It’s only that we’re going to play with different players.