Jurgen Klopp has to put ‘solid’ player back in the Liverpool team on Saturday after more injury news today

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Liverpool just can’t seem to catch a break with injuries this season.

Last week, things had looked to be on course for the Reds. Thiago Alcantara had returned to training in a moment that Jurgen Klopp described as being ‘incredible. The 32-year-old then played for the first time in 10 months as a late substitute against Arsenal on Sunday.

Unfortunately though, it looks like that might be the last we see of Thiago for another little spell. As per The Times, the Spaniard picked up a muscle issue during his 10 minutes or so on the pitch. So far, the length of injury isn’t specified, but he’ll certainly miss Saturday’s game with Burnley.

Another who, according to The Times, is set to be unavailable against the Clarets is Dominik Szoboszlai. As we exclusively revealed yesterday, Szoboszlai’s issue is not as bad as initially reported. However, he won’t be fit for the weekend.

These two new injury blows leave Klopp with little choice over his midfield on Saturday. Whereas Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister were likely set to keep their spots anyway, the manager should now bring Wataru Endo back to complete the trio.

Endo ready for return

Endo’s last game for Liverpool was on New Year’s Day against Newcastle United. Just a few days before that, the Japan captain put in a man of the match display against Burnley.

That was the culmination of an excellent run of form for the 30-year-old, who deservedly scooped the club’s player of the month award for December.

Since then, it’s fair to say that Mac Allister has ensured that Endo’s absence hasn’t been quite so keenly felt. The Argentine has been superb in the No.6 role.

However, without Thiago and – more importantly – Szoboszlai, Mac Allister will be needed a little further upfield.

Klopp put his faith in Ryan Gravenberch to fill in for the Hungarian at the Emirates on Sunday. But with the 21-year-old struggling to make an impact, he’s likely to be dropped against Burnley.

As a result, Endo should return. Having been knocked out of the Asian Cup with Japan on Saturday, the No.3 has been in training for enough time before the match. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be ready.

If he can continue to play as he did before his stint with the national team, Endo returning will be a real boost to Liverpool.

Virgil van Dijk described the former Stuttgart man as a ‘solid’ presence in the days leading up to his enforced departure. We’d argue that Endo had been even better than that.

Having suffered disappointment with Japan in Qatar, he’ll surely be desperate to get back to business with his club. Klopp simply has to throw him back in.