As Liverpool Brace For January Transfer Window, Klopp Offers Latest Injury Update

With the January transfer window set to open in a day, Liverpool FC have suffered yet another injury issue. After the goalless draw against Newcastle United on Wednesday, Jurgen Klopp confirmed center-back Joel Matip has been ruled out for at least three weeks.

Matip sustained an abductor strain during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against West Brom at Anfield last week and missed Liverpool’s trip to St. James’ Park. During the post-match press conference, when Klopp was asked to give an injury update on Matip, the Reds boss said, "The normal stuff with these kinds of injuries, [he will be out for] around about three weeks."

In the ongoing campaign, the champions have won only two out of their eight away matches in the Premier League. Liverpool were once again left frustrated in their latest outing as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino missed a few chances. Even though it was not the result Klopp would have wanted to end the year with, the German manager was happy with the way his boys performed against Newcastle on Wednesday.

"We found a lot of solutions in the game and created unbelievable chances. You have different draws and this one I’m not happy with the result but I am happy with the performance. They defended with all they had but still we were alone in front of the goal, we just couldn’t finish them off. ’ve watched a lot of football matches. You have to respect the result. I know the boys will finish off those situations if they get them again, and we will win football games," added Klopp at the press conference.

Liverpool’s first choice center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are mostly out of the 2020-21 season. Although van Dijk has entered the light rehabilitation stage after his knee surgery, Klopp is aware that it won’t be an easy period for his side in the coming months. In the ongoing campaign, Liverpool have been struck with quite a lot of injuries, but the players have been slowly making a comeback.

Even though it has been reported that Liverpool have a few defensive targets ahead of the January window, the club has not provided any confirmation about the same.

The Newcastle game saw the return of Thiago Alcantara, Liverpool’s summer signing. The midfielder returned after a long injury break after suffering an injury during the Merseyside Derby in October.

"James Milner, for example, tonight played a super game in midfield. Really. So, yes, it’s good [he is back], he is a super player. Shaq is back and that’s, by the way, the best news tonight – the boys are back and, as far as I know at the moment, nobody got injured tonight, which is a very important thing. That means we can probably go with the same squad to Southampton," added Klopp.