Speaking to Liverpool’s official club website, Jurgen Klopp has issued a fitness update ahead of the Reds’ game against Leeds United.
The Merseyside club head to Elland Road with a somewhat depleted squad. Roberto Firmino is out of action, while both Alisson Becker and Fabinho have been affected by the FIFA sanctions on Brazil internationals.
Luckily though, Klopp has alleviated one fitness concern, stating that Harvey Elliott is back fit after he pulled out of England U21 duty earlier this week.
What’s been said?
Klopp gave an injury update about Virgil van dijk, Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott.
“With Virgil, that was obviously a scary moment, you can imagine. I sent him a message after the game, ‘Are you alright?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘100 per cent?’ ‘200 per cent.’ ‘Come on, send me a video of you without limping…’ ‘I’m only limping off,” Klopp said.
“So he called me from the bus and said, ‘Boss, I’m fine!’ I said, ‘Why are you limping then?’ He said, ‘My wife asked the same!’ So, yeah, that was a bit of a tricky moment but apart from that, no, all fine [for the other international players].
“Bobby is not [fit], it happened in the game [against Chelsea] obviously.
“Harvey is fine again.”
Disaster averted
Liverpool would have been in a spot of bother if Elliott had been out. After all, Naby Keita’s situation is up in the air at the moment, while Minamino’s injury has left them in the lurch in an attacking sense.
Whether or not Elliott starts against Leeds remains to be seen, but having him fit is a real boost for the Reds, especially when you consider the litany of injury problems they’ve faced in recent weeks and months.
Elliott may well get the nod at Elland Road, and if he does, don’t be surprised if he once again impresses.
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