Tuesday 31 October 2017 17:17, UK
Jurgen Klopp admits he is still unsure if Philippe Coutinho or Dejan Lovren will recover from injury in time for Liverpool's match against Maribor in the Champions League on Wednesday after both sat out training on Tuesday.
Coutinho missed Liverpool's 3-0 win over Huddersfield with a thigh injury, while Lovren was ruled out of the match shortly before kick-off after also sustaining a thigh problem during the warm-up.
Both players were missing when the squad convened for an open training session at Melwood on Tuesday evening. They were assessed by club medical staff when they arrived and were deemed unfit to train with the group, according to Sky sources..
The Reds, who are top of Group E on goal difference, face Maribor at Anfield on Wednesday and Klopp admits he will wait to the last possible moment to choose his squad for the match.
When asked to provide an update on Coutinho and Lovren's availability earlier in the day, Klopp replied: "I'm not 100 per cent sure.
"Both of them are much better but will they be OK for tomorrow night? I'm not sure in this moment so we will have to see.
"We have another [training] session at five and we will see who will be involved then. That would then give us at least an opportunity.
"If they do not train it does not mean, especially in Dejan's case, immediately that he cannot play because it will be three days [since he last played]. If he could train tomorrow morning that would be enough.
"I don't know exactly. We had a few things after the game. Roberto [Firmino] had a little bit of cramp, Joe [Gomez] felt a little bit, so we were really careful the last few days.
"Tonight and especially tomorrow will be the first time I really think of the line-up and know 100 per cent who is available."
Liverpool moved top of their Champions League group earlier this month courtesy of a 7-0 win over Maribor in Slovenia.
Klopp insists he will resist the urge to rotate his squad for the reverse fixture at Anfield, but could be forced into making changes depending on the fitness of his squad.
"I never take risks with the line-up," said Klopp. "If the player is playing then we expect him at 100 per cent. If you feel a bruise or a little knock that's not a problem but when muscles are inflamed we never take a risk.
"I don't think about rotation. I think about a 100 per cent spot on team tomorrow night. That is all. When I think about the line-up, the last game has an influence but the next game never has an influence.
"We will line up tomorrow with our strongest side."
Klopp also confirmed that Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana are progressing well in their rehabilitation from injury.
"It looks good," said Klopp. "Sadio had this morning kind of a clearing session before he comes back to training. We will have to see how he reacts.
"Adam will be part of team training during the international break. We need to see. That means both of them are in a good way but not good enough to be involved tomorrow or at the weekend at West Ham."
