Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has said that goalkeeper Alisson Becker may not have sustained a long-term injury and he could return to action in a couple of weeks’ time. The Brazil international picked up a calf problem during the season opener against Norwich City at Anfield and he was thereafter replaced by Adrian, who was the club’s only senior signing during the summer transfer window.
Since then, there have been plenty of reports indicating that the shot-stopper could be out of action for around six weeks, but Klopp believes the keeper could return to action much earlier than speculated, he said: “[It’s] Not too cool. It’s a calf injury which takes him obviously out for a while. I don’t want to make now [an] exact prognosis on when he will be back but it will not be Wednesday for sure, so now then we have to see. It takes a while, it takes a couple weeks for sure, and we have to see. I saw already like ‘six weeks’ and stuff like this, but Ali was not a lot injured in his career so I would like to wait a little bit to see how he develops in that process now, but he is not in for the next few weeks.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reiterated that the club may not make much movement during the summer transfer window. The Reds ended the previous season on a high with Champions League success and it appears that Klopp is content with the current setup of the squad without the need for additions.
Speaking to reporters, Klopp said that the club can consider Rhian Brewster and Oxlade-Chamberlain as new signings for the summer, given they were injured for most of the previous season. He added that the fans should not expect a big transfer window following the £170m spent on new arrivals 12 months ago.
Sky Sports pundit Danny Mills has said that Liverpool must spend in the transfer market to ensure that they can keep up with Manchester City in the Premier League title race next term. Jurgen Klopp’s side gave a real contest to the Citizens during the previous campaign and they ultimately fell short of the English crown by the single point.
Despite this, they ended the season on a high by winning the Champions League title and Mills has now suggested that the Reds should look to improve with the recruitment of a few quality squad players, he told Sky Sports: “I don’t think they need a marquee signing but I certainly think they have to spend because if you stand still you go backwards. Klopp has come out and said we need to spend some money to move on and go to the next level. They’ve still got to beyond Manchester City to rip that first title for 30 years away from them. If you want to move forward, they’ve got to add two or three quality squad players.”
England international Joe Gomez has admitted that he was affected by the fact that he was not involved during Liverpool’s push for the Premier League title. The youngster formed a regular partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence during the opening months of the season before sustaining a leg fracture against Burnley in December.
As such, Joel Matip jumped up the pecking order to take up the starting role and that has continued to remain the case even though Gomez has returned from his injury setback. Speaking to The Liverpool Echo, Gomez has acknowledged that he was hurt by the fact that he was sidelined during a crucial part of the season.
Liverpool midfielder James Milner has said that the team should be confident of beating Barcelona at the semi-final stage of the Champions League. The Reds secured their berth in the last four of the competition after beating Porto by a comfortable 6-1 scoreline and they are now scheduled to face the Blaugrana, who are regarded as the favourites to secure the European crown.
Speaking to BT Sport, Milner said that the Reds are capable of beating the Spanish champions but they can’t expect an easy challenge. He added that the Blaugrana may not be so familiar with their style of play and that could provide the edge in their quest to make the final of the competition for the second consecutive year.