INJURY CRISIS? I DON’T BUY IT

Klopp unfazed by growing list of crocks throughout his team and he insists it can’t be solved in the transfer market

JURGEN KLOPP has insisted that he will not over-react to an injury crisis that has ripped the heart from his team.

And the Liverpool boss responded to the latest issues, which see keeper Alisson and new signing Thiago Alcantara both almost certain to be ruled out of tonight’s clash against Arsenal, by explaining the problem can not be solved in the transfer market.

Speaking ahead of the clash with the Gunners – who have beaten the Anfield side in their last two meetings – the German coach said he is happy with his squad and will not panic, despite injuries down the spine of his team.

In particular, he has two centre halves and two central midfielders injured, which leaves the squad dangerously exposed with such an intense fixture list.

But when asked if that will prompt more signings, he replied: “I don’t expect a lot to be honest. You think you are well covered, and you can not solve that in the transfer market.

“We have three absolutely top, top, top centre-halves, young players in line, Fabinho in hand if you want, and then all of a sudden three players are out for a few days and that is not nice.

“But you can not solve that in the transfer market. That is just not possible. We will not even try if nothing more serious happens. I hope we don’t have to try.

“If the situation stays like it is at the moment then no there will be nothing. All the rest, we are in quite a good place squad wise, and what the outcome will be I have no idea at the moment.”

Alisson is a particular concern for Klopp. He missed 10 games at the start of last term, and then more just before the lockdown.

His deputy Adrian started well in the Reds shirt, winning the European Super Cup in a penalty shoot out, but was poor in the defeats to Chelsea and then Atletico Madrid just before football’s shut down.

Klopp has far more options in midfield, despite the absence of his skipper Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who could be out for several weeks with another injury problem.

In defence, Joel Matip is still out at centre half, but Joe Gomez returned to training on Friday.

He now could slot back into central defence, freeing Fabinho up to return to his more customary role as a holding midfielder.

Curtis Jones also comes into contention, after a fine display at Lincoln in the Carabao Cup in midweek, while Gini Wijnaldum and Naby Keita are expected to play.

Klopp made the signings of Thiago, Diogo Jota and Greece full-back Kostas Tsimikas to add depth to his s q u a d in a crazily condensed season, which b r i ngs an intensity to matches never before seen in a P r em i e r League campaign.

But he admits it will not be easy to settle new faces – or young players – into the side given the hectic schedule, which does not allow time for tactical finessing on the training pitch.

He added: “That is a challenge – but that is the situation. You can not train a lot of intense stuff in between the games, but you can work on tactics. That is possible.

“Work on positioning and things like this you do a lot in meetings and in talks and then on the pitch as well. I don’t know how often we can do it during a week, we will see. But it is a constant process.

“Let me say it like this. On the other side, our football, because I am a pretty simple person our football is pretty simple.

“It is not rocket science and it is not that complicated. It just needs a little time to get used to it in moments, counterpress stuff like this.

“It will not take ages, it will take time. We will see how long.”