Here’s the latest team news ahead of Leicester City vs Liverpool. The Reds will be without several players.
The latest news is that Liverpool will have six players missing when they pick their team to face Leicester City today. Injuries continue to be a huge problem.
Fabinho
This is the big one. Jurgen Klopp confirmed on Friday that the Brazilian won’t play at the King Power Stadium.
“[Fabinho] will not be available. He suffered again a little muscle issue, so will be out for this game.”
No Fabinho almost certainly means another game with Jordan Henderson in defence. Will Klopp opt for a new signing to partner him, though?
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It’s very possible – and we hope he does – but it’s also possible he opts for Nat Phillips again. It’ll all depend on how integrated the new duo is.
Naby Keita
We haven’t seen Naby Keita since December 19th – the 7-0 win over Crystal Palace. He’s been out ever since but Klopp hinted he could be just two weeks away from a return.
Diogo Jota
Another missing since early December. We’re desperate to have Diogo Jota back in the squad but it could be a little while, still.
“Diogo [will be] two or three weeks, maybe,” Klopp estimates.
Virgil van Dijk
Out for the season, of course.
Joe Gomez
Much like Van Dijk, we likely won’t see Joe Gomez again this season. Klopp admitted last week that he’d ‘be positively surprised’ if the defender played before the end of the season.
Joel Matip
Liverpool revealed on deadline day that Joel Matip required surgery and wouldn’t play again this season.
The outlook
Once again, Liverpool will go into this game without their first four choices in defence. That will, surely, prompt debuts for Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies.
It’s not a sure thing, though. Klopp may not trust them yet – it can take months before he throws some players in.
So not for the first time, Liverpool face an uphill fight against Leicester as they try to win with a makeshift side.
