Lallana Targets Cherries Return, Sturridge Not Training and Waiting for Firmino

While speculation is rife that Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho will miss the next six weeks after scans on the ankle injury he picked up in the 2-0 win over Sunderland at the weekend confirmed the worst, the Reds have other injury concerns to tend with as well ahead of their League Cup quater-final meeting with Leeds United at Anfield tomorrow.

“Obviously you know about Phil – his scan is this afternoon and we will then know more,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, before providing updates on attacking trio Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino. “Adam is in a very good way, close to team training but that means in the same moment that he is not ready for the game. Daniel is not in team training, so it means then it is the same, and on Roberto we have to wait,” explained the German. “I know yesterday it was still painful, so that’s something we have to wait for – how he feels today. It’s another day for us. I think it will be OK but I’m not sure at the moment.”

Although the meeting with old foes Leeds will come too soon for Lallana, it’s expected that he’ll be back in contention for a spot in the starting eleven when we visit AFC Bournemouth at the weekend. Sturridge, on the other hand remains a bit of an unknown with another calf problem hampering his chances at first team football. Firmino, who hobbled off during the closing stages of the win over the Black Cats, also has a problem with his calf, but he was always likely to be rested for the League Cup outing anyways with Klopp expected to make wholesale changes to the side.

“That’s, I think, all,” continued the Reds boss. “Apart from how it always is in the period after an intense game, like it was against Sunderland,” mused Klopp, “a few knocks here and there, so we have to wait until this afternoon’s training, the impressions and then make the line-up.”