Jurgen Klopp makes injury admission ahead of Spurs clash

Jurgen Klopp is hopeful that Joel Matip will be fit for Liverpool’s clash against Tottenham on Wednesday after the central defender went off with a back spasm in the Reds’ 1-1 draw against Fulham yesterday.

Liverpool already had more than their fair share of injuries to deal with going into the clash at Craven Cottage.

Their squad is particularly stretched in central defence where Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both out with long-term injuries.

Summer signing Diego Jota, who has made a blistering start to his Liverpool career, is also expected to be out for at least six weeks with a knee injury.

While Matip started alongside Fabinho in central defence on Sunday for Klopp’s men, Jordan Henderson had to slot into the backline after the German international came off.

Liverpool needed a second-half penalty to salvage a point against Fulham, which meant that Spurs remain top of the table on goal difference going into Wednesday’s clash at Anfield.

When asked if there was a worse time to be facing the deadly Spurs duo Harry Kane and Son Heung-min given Liverpool’s lack of defensive cover, Klopp said (via The Guardian): “Probably not. But we aren’t struggling with numbers at centre-back – it’s just now they are getting younger and younger.

“Today we tried with Hendo so it’s situations like this. You have to find the solution but that is how football is.”

When the Liverpool boss was asked if Matip has a chance of being fit for the clash, he responded: “We will see. He will get treatment so I think he has a chance.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Liverpool have shown over the last few weeks that they can still blow teams away when they turn it on despite their long injury list. Their form, especially at Anfield, has been exemplary. So even if it is Henderson who starts in central defence or a relatively inexperienced youngster, the game on Wednesday will undoubtedly be the toughest test Tottenham have faced so far this season.

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