The German is likely to refresh his squad as Liverpool prepare to play their third match in a week when the League Cup victors visit Anfield on Wednesday evening
Lucas Leiva has picked up a muscle injury and is unlikely to feature in Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City on Wednesday, with Jurgen Klopp expected to make several further changes to his line-up too.
The Brazilian sustained the problem when taking an unsuccessful penalty in Sunday’s League Cup final shoot-out against Manuel Pellegrini’s men, who won 3-1 from the spot after Philippe Coutinho had cancelled out Fernandinho’s opener to force extra-time at Wembley. Mamadou Sakho had to be replaced after 25 minutes of the encounter after a clash of heads with Emre Can, and Klopp is waiting to assess his fitness as well as that of Daniel Sturridge, who cramped up at the national stadium.
“We have to wait for a few things, but it doesn’t look too good with Lucas – he will not be available,” Klopp revealed in his media briefing at Melwood.
“He had problems with a muscle when he shot the penalty, so I think he is not available. We have to wait, but I don’t think so.
“With Mama, I don’t know exactly. We had to make a decision in the moment on the sidelines.
“I think it was the right decision but until now I have heard nothing about the real issue, so I have to wait for the final judgement of the Doc.
“Daniel had cramp so we will see how he is. We don’t want to go and risk tomorrow, but who is available is available and then we have to make the choice.
“You have to wait a few more hours, I have to wait a few more hours and then we will know more – and then you will see the line-up tomorrow.”
Klopp expects Pellegrini to similarly shuffle his pack following a taxing final, with usual No.1 Joe Hart likely to be back between the sticks despite Willy Caballero's penalty heroics.
“I think City will bring back Joe Hart,” the German coach continued. “Yaya [Toure] had cramp too, and that would be a big change for them. Maybe [Jesus] Navas will be back.
“I know it’s a very important game for them and it’s a very important game for us, so it’s not that the game is not too important, it’s about thinking ‘Can I bring in another [player] that is 100 per cent fit?’
“That’s the same as what we are doing. We don’t make changes to say, ‘Come on, it’s Man City, you can lose’ or that it’s more important how we play against Crystal Palace or something. We cannot do this and we won’t do this.
“It is all about who is fit enough to go into this really intensive game for both sides. We will pick the best line-up we can.”
- Goal