Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he doesn’t know if captain Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum will be fit to face Bournemouth on Saturday.
Both midfielders were due to start against West Ham last night, but speaking after the 1-1 draw, Klopp couldn’t give a definitive answer as to when both players would be fit and available again:
“Gini and Hendo, both would’ve played and then they cannot play. That’s not too cool, I don’t know how long it will take.”
“That’s the situation, that was always clear. It’s a long season and you have to deal with the situation.”
“When players are in, all the players are there, then you maybe have a bit of a headache making the line-up, who wants to start, who you leave out. If you don’t have them that makes line-ups easier, but it leaves you short of options.”
Fans on Twitter are hoping that both return to fitness as soon as possible:
Oh god please let them be fit.
— RunKloppRun© (@KloppRun) 5 February 2019
Please hurry
— . (@DisGameILoveIt) 5 February 2019
What is up with us and New year injuries? Even when we rotate, we still get them.
— ? (@97liverpoolLad) 5 February 2019
Just need to know about Gini really, such a big miss
— Rajoun Buddo (@Jon_Van_Dijk) 5 February 2019
Keita much start on the bench Saturday
— ……. (@deltron14) 5 February 2019
Finally people see what hendo brings to the team. But man we cant do set pieces at all.
— Erlend Brendø (@brend_erlend) 5 February 2019
Not gonna lie we kind of missed Henderson last night.
— oh yeah yeah (@HD57899489) 5 February 2019
Well, I need to make a confession, as long as Hendo pairing with Fabinho, he looks like a different player, tbf. Worth starting spot.
But, if Hendo play with his usual trio, it’s a damn tricky choice.
— Hayatullah (@Hayat_aL_Fatih) 5 February 2019
Been missing these men
— Jamie Ward (@Lil_Murky20) 5 February 2019
Liverpool’s midfield looked pretty disjointed without the pair’s involvement. Naby Keita is still struggling despite having been given a run of games by Klopp.
Adam Lallana looked more lively and played a key role in Sadio Mane’s opening goal against the Hammers. However, the lack of protection afforded to the backline by the midfield three was evident.
The work rate of Henderson and Wijnaldum sometimes goes unnoticed but Klopp will almost certainly bring both players back into the side when they return from injury.