After producing some of his best displays since he played alongside Luis Suarez in the Anfield frontline, Liverpool fans will be devastated to hear of fresh injury worries over forward Daniel Sturridge as he missed training on Sunday ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie up against Championship side Derby County.
However, with the England international on a special training regime in an attempt to avoid injury after an injury plagued two years, his absence may mean nothing at all, claim Metro.
Two other notable absences from Klopp’s Sunday training session were Roberto Firmino, who sat out Friday night’s vital clash with a minor groin strain, and Georgino Wijnaldum, though the reason for this is as yet unknown. It could perhaps be linked to the fact that the Dutchman appeared to be struggling with cramp before being withdrawn against Chelsea.
Wijnaldum has impressed since signing in the summer and Firmino is currently in the best form since he moved to the club from Hoffenheim, so Reds fans will be hoping that the absences of the two players are merely precautionary. With Derby struggling in the Championship, injuries to such key players may mean an opportunity for game time for squad players like Danny Ings up front and Kevin Stewart or Marko Grujic in midfield.
Boss Jurgen Klopp has also reportedly made another big decision this week as the Express claim that he has made it clear that he is prepared to spend up to £25 million to bring Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud to Anfield. Liverpool reportedly sent scouts to watch the German in defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday night having already attempted to sign the 20-year-old in the summer transfer window.
Despite the fact that Juventus have also been linked, latest reports suggest that the club will go back in for the tough midfielder in January as they attempt to add cover to the holding midfield position, with Jordan Henderson currently deputising for Emre Can in the role as the number 23 returns to fitness from an ankle injury.
Dahoud has massive potential and would be a superb signing for the club, but signing the midfielder may be more easily said than done, especially with his club reluctant to do business over his future, regardless of the size of the fee on offer. Rumours have suggested that his contract will activate a release clause for a certain fee from the summer onwards, but Klopp is keen to get a deal tied up as soon as possible and would be prepared to pay a premium to allow that to happen.
The club has attracted plaudits and criticism in equal measure for a controversial tweet in reply to a Manchester United fan account after the Red Devil’s fell to defeat at Vicarage Road against Watford on Sunday as part of a new social media strategy from the club.
Anfield enemy Gary Neville was amongst those to criticise the tweet as unprofessional, but many others in the footballing world have appreciated the sarcasm and sense of humour behind the tweet from the club’s official account.
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