KLOPP’S FIRMINO FEAR
LIVERPOOL are sweating on the fitness of Roberto Firmino ahead of tomorrow’s game against Burnley.
The Kop forward, 25, picked up a groin injury during the Reds’ 3-1 win over Arsenal last weekend.
Firmino has not trained since and it is highly unlikely he will feature in the Anfield clash.
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp said: “He felt something after the game and this week he couldn’t train.
“We need to wait a little bit more and then we will see.
“He played 90 minutes against Arsenal and then he felt the muscle a little bit.
“At first we thought it was the normal feeling after a game because Roberto never actually has anything.
“But we thought when he mentioned something that maybe it is not that simple and since then we have had to leave him out.
“It is not a big thing but it may be close for Sunday.”
The loss of Firmino would be a huge blow for Klopp, with the Brazilian having rekindled his attacking partnership with Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho in recent weeks.
Plan
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Joe Hart, who is on loan at Torino, said that he wants to join a club where he will be No.1 – but that does not look like being Liverpool.
Klopp insists he is happy with Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius as his two keepers with veteran Alex Manninger as third choice. And the German stated he has no plans to buy another shot-stopper this summer.
Karius was injured at the start of the season before replacing Mignolet in goal.
But he soon found himself back on the bench after a number of errors.
It is believed the long-term plan is for the former Mainz star to be first choice.
Klopp added: “I am happy most of the days.
“I am happy with our goalkeepers, yes.
“We have with Mr Manninger a wonderful professional player who helps the squad.
“We have young players in behind, including Danny Ward on loan.
“Our situation is as good as possible.”