Jurgen Klopp has admitted that young forward Fabio Carvalho has not been in Liverpool training this week.
Klopp was speaking in his pre-Napoli press conference via Liverpool FC on YouTube. Asked for an update on Carvalho, the manager said that although the 20-year-old hasn’t been in training, he was still hopeful of a return at the weekend.
“Fabio got a massive dead leg which caused the muscle some problems. He’s walking now normal but there’s [been] no chance to train until now. We hope now every day it will get better and he will be ready for the weekend, but I’m not 100% sure,” Klopp said.
After a good run of form, it’s a shame that Carvalho couldn’t last more than 45 minutes against Everton. For him to miss a possible Champions League debut is an unfortunate side effect of that. Hopefully he recovers in time to face Wolves on Saturday.
Liverpool struggling with injuries, Napoli not so much
As well as Carvalho, Liverpool will also be without Curtis Jones in Naples tonight. The 21-year-old has suffered a set-back after returning to training and a revised time-frame is yet to be given.
Joining the young pair on the treatment table is Jordan Henderson. The Liverpool captain isn’t expected back until after the international break in October with a hamstring complaint.
Aside from that trio, Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns for tonight’s game. Long-term absentees Caoimhin Kelleher, Naby Keita, Ibrahima Konate, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calvin Ramsay will also miss the trip.
Napoli meanwhile could be without star striker Victor Osimhen. The 23-year-old is recovering from a knock but hasn’t yet been ruled out. According to sscnapoli.it, Osimhen underwent a personalised gym session during training yesterday.
Hirving Lozano had also been a doubt, but reportedly took part in the full session on Tuesday. Midfielder Diego Demme partially trained yesterday having previously been injured, too.
Without Osimhen, Napoli would be a slightly less threatening opposition. But they still have plenty of players who can cause issues for Liverpool.
Top scorer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has burst onto the scene in Serie A and is currently I Partenopei’s danger man. Liverpool will need to be wary of him.
With Thiago Alcantara returning to the fold, fresh optimism for the season has gripped Liverpool fans. Carvalho’s injury after a nice little run may be a small blow to that optimism.
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