Jurgen Klopp hinted that Jordan Henderson could return against Brighton with his selection against Atalanta. The Liverpool boss made a tough decision.
We felt that Jurgen Klopp may have to play Leighton Clarkson against Atalanta. He’s short on midfielders, after all, and the only available three played the full 90 on Sunday.
As it turned out, the boss started all three of James Milner, Curtis Jones and Gini Wijnaldum. That means he asked the trio to play another full 90 minutes, just three days after their last one.
And with under 36 hours before the Reds face Brighton at Saturday lunchtime. Unless injuries let up, they’ll be the same three senior midfielders available for that game.
Starting them is a risk, then. Any injuries or tiredness would severely affect Liverpool for that game.
Unless, of course, they won’t be the only three.
The return
We think this selection hints that Jordan Henderson will return against Brighton. It’s just difficult to understand why Klopp would take this risk unless someone was on their way back imminently.
And Henderson feels like the most likely. The £20m man didn’t pick up a major injury and left England early as a precaution. It sounds about right that he’d return soon.
Naby Keita only picked up his injury on Sunday, of course – so we can’t see him returning. While Thiago is all a bit of a mystery. His injury sounds worse than first thought.
So, hopefully, Klopp’s selection on Wednesday was a hint that the injury crisis eases up soon. Saturday would be ideal, given the quick turnaround from the Atalanta game.
And Liverpool could really do with the injury crisis easing up a little as we head into a very busy December.
Fingers crossed, then, that Henderson is on his way back to action.
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