Although Liverpool will be without winger Sadio Mane after the Senegalese attacker was ruled out for the remainder of the season before undergoing a successful knee surgery earlier in the week, speaking to the press ahead of the meeting with West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed that the club have no fresh injury concerns — but some familiar faces will still be missing when they make the trip to the Hawthorns on Sunday.
“[They are] better, but not good enough for the weekend,” said the German manager when asked about midfield duo Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana. “With Jordan, it was clear from the beginning that it’s not a fixed time until he is back. We have to wait until he feels absolutely nothing, that’s how it is. That’s what we are still waiting for,” explained Klopp, shedding some light on the foot injury that has kept the Liverpool skipper sidelined since February. “In all of what he is doing at the moment, he feels nothing, but we have to make steps still, steps to go [so] that he can be part of team training.”
Despite a rash of injuries casting shade on their bid to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League, the Reds have pulled through admirably. Unbeaten in their last six outings, the Anfield outfit came from behind to claim a vital three-points at Stoke City last weekend with Brazilian duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino — who both started on the bench with a virus and general exhaustion respectively keeping them out of the starting eleven — providing the fire-power to shatter the Potters early lead. Although both Henderson and Lallana will miss the meeting with the Baggies and the home clash with Crystal Palace that’ll follow, they should be back and helping out before the meeting with Watford FC kicks off the month of May.
“With Adam, it is a little bit easier to say. I am pretty sure after the Crystal Palace game, he will probably be in normal training and that means then [for Watford] he is in the squad or we can think about him then,” said Klopp. “For the Watford game again, with Jordan it could be next week in training, could be the week after, but I think we are in a good way with him also,” added the Reds boss. “Everything will be good and I am pretty sure he will have a few games in this season.”
