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Tottenham head coach José Mourinho has questioned whether Liverpool have an injury crisis ahead of their clash at the top of the table at Anfield on Wednesday.
The champions have several first-team players injured, including Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara, while defender Joel Matip remains a doubt for Wednesday’s game.
But Mourinho believes that Matip will play at Anfield and that Van Dijk is the only key absentee, with Xherdan Shaqiri and James Milner also out with injury.
Asked about Liverpool’s disabled list and the team he hopes to face, Mourinho replied: “I think Alisson is not injured. [Trent] Alexander-Arnold is not injured. Matip, I think he’s going to play. Fabinho is not injured. [Andrew] Robertson was not hurt. [Jordan] Henderson is not injured. [Georginio] Wijnaldum was not injured. [Mohamed] Salah was not hurt. [Roberto] Firmino is not injured. [Sadio] Mane is not hurt. Van Dijk is injured and Van Dijk is a very good player, of course.
Mourinho (left) has played down Jurgen Klopp’s injury problems at Liverpool
“But give me Liverpool’s injury list and compare that injury list to which is the best Liverpool team.”
“I can give you a list of the injuries at Tottenham. We have two U16s with injuries, we have two others in the U21s and we have three in the U23s. We have [Erik] Lick it and [Japhet] Tanganga, and here is a list of players.
“But it is [Hugo] Are you crying hurt? No. [Toby] Alderweireld injured? No. [Eric] Dier hurt? No. [Sergio] Reguilon injured? No. Harry Kane hurt? No. [Heung-Min] Injured son? No. Lucas [Moura] injured? No.
“So where are the injuries? There are normal injuries, it’s normal. James Milner is injured, Lamela is injured and all the clubs from time to time have injuries. Liverpool have a big injury, which is Van Dijk.
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Bale unlikely to be prepared for Anfield clash
Mourinho’s main injury concern before Wednesday’s game remains Gareth Bale after missing Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday with illness.
But now it seems likely that the Welshman will miss a second game in a row.
Asked if Gareth Bale is fit for Wednesday, Mourinho said: “Right now, I would say no.
Gareth Bale is a big doubt due to injury for Wednesday’s game in Liverpool
“We still have a training session this afternoon. Yesterday he did not train with the team, he trained inside and not even outside.
“But let’s wait for the sensations and see the training session at three.”
José: We’re going to Liverpool to win
The leaders, Tottenham, are ahead of Liverpool on goal difference and a victory in Merseyside would ensure that they will remain top of the league.
Mourinho insists they will go to Anfield in search of victory despite Tottenham’s poor record on the field, where they have only won two of their 28 Premier League matches.
“It is a game in which we do not change our philosophy,” Mourinho said. “We don’t change our wishes. We want to win.
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FREE TO SEE: Highlights from Crystal Palace’s draw with Tottenham in the Premier League
“We’re going there to try and win the game, it’s the way we think this season. It’s not about being at the top of the league or not, it’s nothing, it’s just about going there and trying to win.
“We don’t want to make statements, we just want to play the game and win it. If we don’t win it and the responsibility for that is Liverpool’s responsibility, then great.
“If it is our responsibility, we cannot perform well, then it would be a worse feeling, of course. But we are not there to make any kind of statement.”
“But I make no secret that we are going there and our goal is to win.”
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