MY ACCOUNT
Jurgen Klopp bemoaned injury problems for hampering Liverpool’s consistency as the Reds manager confirmed Thiago Alcantara will miss Wednesday’s visit to Ajax.
Liverpool have underwhelmed this season thus far, sitting eighth in the Premier League and 12 points behind leaders Arsenal after falling to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
However, despite a 4-1 hammering at Napoli on matchday one in the Champions League, the Reds could still progress to the knockout stages with a game to spare if they avoid defeat at Ajax.
Liverpool will head to Amsterdam without Thiago to call upon, though, as injury issues continue to frustrate Klopp.
“Thiago is still out, I don’t know if he will be fit for the weekend. [Ibrahima] Konate is here and ready to play minutes, I would say,” Klopp said.
“When you want it really clicking you need consistency in the line-up and we haven’t had that.
“When you have [lots of injuries], players who should be rested have to play and players come back from injuries too early. That’s tricky. That situation isn’t sorted overnight.
“We’ve played really well a couple of times but it’s not as if we have been without problems. We win a game then lose two players and another who can’t play for more than 20 minutes. Tomorrow we have enough players with us.”
Liverpool will welcome back Darwin Nunez for the trip to Ajax, though, as Klopp aims to progress to the Champions League stages with the Reds for a record sixth straight time.
Ajax must win to keep their hopes alive in the competition, but they have lost their last three Champions League matches against Liverpool, only enduring longer such runs against Juventus (four) and Real Madrid (seven).
Klopp’s side battled past Alfred Schreuder’s team in the reverse fixture, courtesy of a late Joel Matip winner, and the German acknowledged the difficult challenge that awaits at Johan Cruijff Arena.
“We played a good home game against Ajax. That’s a bit like our season – we play really good then the opponent scores with their first chance,” Klopp added.
“Ajax are a dangerous opponent and that’s the team we play for. It would be great [to qualify early] but I can’t sit here and tell you how I feel because we haven’t done it.
“After our start in the group stage, people didn’t think it was likely to happen. But now it can happen, and we have to close the group.”
