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Jurgen Klopp is hopeful that Joel Matip is fit for Liverpool’s clash against Tottenham on Wednesday after the central defender left with a back spasm in the Reds’ 1-1 draw against Fulham yesterday.
Liverpool already had more injuries than they had to deal with before the crash at Craven Cottage.
His team is particularly stretched out in central defense, where Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are out with long-term injuries.
Summer signing Diego Jota, who has made a spectacular 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 defense on Sunday for Klopp’s men, Jordan Henderson had to move to the baseline after the German international came out.
Liverpool needed a second-half penalty to save a point against Fulham, which meant Spurs remain top of the table on goal difference ahead of Wednesday’s clash at Anfield.
When asked if there was a worse time to face Spurs’ deadly duo Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, given Liverpool’s lack of defensive coverage, Klopp said (via The Guardian): “Probably not. But we are not struggling with the numbers in central defense, it’s just that they are getting younger now.
“Today we tried Hendo, so there are situations like this. You have to find the solution, but that’s how football is ”.
When the Liverpool manager was asked if Matip has a chance of being fit for the clash, he replied: “We’ll see. He will get treatment, so I think he has a chance. “
Spurs Web opinion
Liverpool have shown over the past few weeks that they can still surprise teams when they turn them on despite their long injured list. His form, especially at Anfield, has been exemplary. So even if it’s Henderson who starts in central defense or a relatively inexperienced youngster, Wednesday’s game will undoubtedly be the toughest test Tottenham have faced so far this season.
