Coming off a pair of disappointing draws at Anfield, Liverpool go on the road this weekend with a trip to AFC Bournemouth on the cards and more changes — some enforced, some down to rotation — set to be made by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp as he tries to mitigate for injuries and keep others fresh ahead of the hectic festive fixture list.
“Joel is on a good way, running outside. [He is] not available for the weekend, of course. The same for Clyney,” said the German manager, speaking to the press ahead of their trip to the South Coast. “Daniel, we have to wait [to see] how he improved since yesterday,” continued Klopp, giving a brief update on Sturridge. “[We have] a few little things, with Joe [Gomez], knocks from the game,” he added, hopeful that the young defender will be ready to play at the weekend. “Joe had a little bit before, that’s why we left him out. But he should be OK.”
Although they dominated on both occasions, Liverpool could only come up with two points out of a possible six as Everton and West Bromwich Albion made it out of Anfield with an undeserved share of the spoils. With results going their way around the league, the Reds missed out on a golden opportunity to not only widen the gap between them and the chasing pack, but to solidify their place in the top-four.
While most of the changes have come up top, it sounds like Klopp is going to be given another option in the middle of the park with Adam Lallana having returned to full training this week. The English midfielder should be fit enough to make the squad alongside Simon Mignolet who will return to the starting eleven after missing out on the draw with the Baggies with a slight ankle problem.
“Millie and Robbo, a few knocks from the game, should be OK,” explained Klopp. “Adam is back in full and normal training; if nothing changed since yesterday then he will be ready for the squad at least,” enthused the Reds boss. “[Moreno] has no chance for Sunday. I saw him yesterday on the bike – good but not good enough,” said the German manager, before hinting that normal service between the sticks is set to resume. “And Simon [Mignolet] is OK again.”
