Liverpool’s injury woes continued last night as The Reds suffered more bad luck during their 2-0 Champions League win over FC Midtjylland.
Jürgen Klopp’s Reds had to remain patient before second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah (penalty) sealed the three points. However, the victory came at a price as Liverpool’s makeshift centre-half Fabinho limped off after just 30 minutes.
The Brazil international was replaced by 19-year-old Rhys Williams who had less than two minutes of Champions League experience under his belt from a late cameo appearance at Ajax last week.
Jordan Henderson was also replaced at half-time with Gini Wijnaldum taking his place. Thankfully, it turned out that was part of a pre-planned change by Klopp to share the workload of minutes throughout the squad in this highly-condensed season.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Klopp said he would have to wait for scan results to judge the extent of Fabinho’s injury.
“Fab, I don’t know. Muscle injuries are like this, you get the result tomorrow morning probably, we have to wait for that.”
About the Henderson substitution, Klopp confirmed the pre-planned change:
“First, Hendo said at half-time he wants to play on. Before the game I’d decided already we have to share it – 45 and 45 – and all the rest would have been ridiculous.
“Hendo said at half-time, ‘No, boss, I can go on’ and then in these moments you have to be strong to yourself because I didn’t want to lose him, actually.
“We made the change, Gini did really well and for both I think it helped that they played only 45.”
The Liverpool boss was then also asked about Joel Matip’s rehabilitation and whether the former Cameroon international would be fit to partner Joe Gomez in defence for the West Ham game this weekend.
“I don’t know, we have to see.
“Look, if it would be only one game we play, if it was the last game of the season, I think we could make probably one or the other fit for one game – but we play three days later again and we need players again.
“The players who are now injured, we cannot use them on the first day of being fit again – or not injured anymore. They need a proper build-up for the rest of the season and that’s what we try.
“It is this juggle all the time between the fit players – how much can they play still? – and when we can use the others again?
“We are really interested in that fact so you can imagine we try everything to make everybody fit as quickly as possible.”
In what may have been an early reveal of some potentially positive news regarding Fabinho’s injury, the Daily Mirror’s Northern Football Correspondent, David Maddock, tweeted late last night that Fabinho’s absence could be “weeks, not months.”
Word late tonight is, Liverpool hopeful Fabinho hamstring problem not quite as serious as first thought.
He’ll be scanned in morning for confirmation. But could be weeks, not months. #LFC— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) October 27, 2020
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