Klopp: We have so many injured, and most of them are leaders

JURGEN KLOPP’S press conferences may soon start with: “Stop me if you think you’ve heard this one before”.

Another week, another injury, another lengthy lay-off. This time it is captain Jordan Henderson, who will miss six to eight weeks having undergone groin surgery.

There was some consolation for the midfielder/emergency central defender, who expects to recover to play the final weeks of this campaign, and is not giving up on featuring for England in the Euros.

“It’s not a quick one, but we all hope there is a possibility for him to play this season,” Klopp said. “We have so many injured players, and most of them are our leaders in the group.”

Henderson picked up the injury during last weekend’s 2-0 derby defeat against Everton. Typically, he tried to play on with one working leg, a sadly appropriate visual metaphor for Liverpool’s title defence.

When the football historians capture the image of how Klopp’s champions were knocked off their perch after becoming European, English and world champions pre-lockdown, they might do so by depicting star players limping away from the Premier League trophy on crutches, probably wearing a face mask.

Adapt

Now Liverpool must adapt without another main man, and the usual judgments on their season’s objectives look increasingly absurd given the physical and psychological traumas many of their key personnel have endured.

Some of those ordeals make football trivial. No one can be sure when Alisson Becker will play next after the tragic death of his father. With Henderson out, Liverpool’s chances of making the top four have receded further. To be in next season’s Champions League, they may have to lift the trophy again in May. The injury run has been unrelenting.

At least Diogo Jota, missing since December, is nearing a return. “He trained twice with the team but was a long time out. He looks promising,” said Klopp. “The way he came back into training is positive.”

Unless Klopp fast-tracks Fabinho into the line-up once he has overcome hamstring issues (the Brazilian will return to training today), the manager must make do in central defence with the raw Ozan Kabak, inexperienced Nat Phillips, and the so far unused Ben Davies.

Klopp has been invited to use injuries as an excuse for poor results. Prior to tomorrow’s trip to Sheffield United, he was again reluctant.

“We don’t have to talk too much. We just have to win as many points as possible,” he said. (© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2021) Sheffield United v Liverpool, Live, Sky Sports, tomorrow, 7.15