Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Roberto Firmino will be fit to face Manchester United next week.
Speaking to Viaplay after yesterday’s draw with Crystal Palace, Klopp said that his Brazilian forward should be back in training tomorrow.
“Really difficult week, so many little things, injury here injury there,” said the Reds’ manager. “Joey [Gomez] came back at the last second, Bobby [Firmino] was not enough in the end but will probably be fine from Wednesday on. So these [are] kind of real problems.”
Perhaps it was just a throwaway line from Klopp, but it indicates that some good news could be on the way for Liverpool.
Liverpool counting on Bobby once again
Although it appears to have been just a slight knock, Firmino’s injury is still troublesome news. The 30-year-old had a campaign blighted by issues last year and can’t afford another one as he enters the last year of his contract.
If he continues to pick up these problems, then perhaps his best days are now well and truly behind him.
In a wider sense though, Liverpool are now counting completely on their no.9 being available next Monday. Diogo Jota is still some way off a return, while Darwin Nunez will now miss the next three games through suspension.
Should Firmino suffer a set-back, Klopp would likely have to shift Mohamed Salah or Luis Diaz into the middle. Fabio Carvalho could then come into the side from the left or the right. That wouldn’t be ideal heading to Old Trafford.
Of course the Liverpool boss could perhaps try a formation change instead. But without any recognised central striker, it could look a little haphazard.
Fingers crossed then that Bobby’s OK. If he does manage to get himself match-fit, then the next three games can present him with a real opportunity.
Regardless of injury, Nunez’s good form would surely have pushed him out of yesterday’s line-up anyway. Now a chance has been handed back to him to stake his claim for a long-term slot and maybe even a new contract.
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