SHOCK& DRAW

Lallana KO’d for 3 months, Coutinho misses Dublin trip, tough mission in CL play-off

HOFFENHEIM have left Jurgen Klopp in tears once before...and he’s determined to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

His Liverpool side were given the toughest Champions League draw possible yesterday as they were handed a showdown with the German club, who finished fourth in the Bundesliga, for a lucrative place in the group stages. And Klopp will have to face them without Adam Lallana (below left), ruled out until November with a thigh injury.

That’s not the only injury problem for Klopp – Philippe Coutinho (below right) misses the trip to Dublin to face Athletic Bilbao this evening.

Klopp owes Hoffenheim one – they spoiled his send-off from Mainz by denying him a dramatic return to the German top flight in what turned out to be his last game before becoming boss of Dortmund.

Mainz, who had to better Hoffenheim’s result to be promoted, thrashed Hamburg 5-1. But their rivals responded with a 5-0 victory of their own, spoiling the leaving party. According to a biography of the Liverpool boss, “Klopp was in tears again.”

Hoffenheim are backed by a wealthy businessman who has invested millions, and Klopp said: “For sure it’s not an easy game. But it’s hardly the best draw for them either.

“Actually, it was exactly what I expected when I had a look at the opponents we could get – if there’s a choice we always seem to get the German team!”