In today’s Liverpool roundup, we take a look at the news doing the rounds for the Reds. Jurgen Klopp has provided an injury update ahead of the Sunday showdown against Chelsea, Jamie Carragher blames Suarez for the 2013-14 title loss, and Charlie Nicholas believes Liverpool will lose their 100% record this weekend.
Injury update
Report: As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Naby Keita is back training with the team while Alisson is making “big progress”, although it is “too early to say” as to when he will be back with the first-team, said Klopp. Elsewhere, Divock Origi has not been completely ruled out despite coming off in the 3-1 win over Newcastle United.
Verdict: It seems it is good news for Liverpool on the injury front. Indeed, Keita may not slot into the team immediately as Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho are tough to replace right now. However, with the Champions League ties coming thick and fast and the Carabao Cup soon starting, Klopp will be very happy to see him back fit soon.
As for Alisson, it does seem he may be out for a few more weeks, which could see him miss games against Chelsea, Sheffield United, Red Bull Salzburg, Leicester City and perhaps even the trip to Old Trafford.
Carragher blames Suarez for title failure
Report: When speaking with Sky Sports ahead of the Chelsea fixture, Carragher looked back on the 2-2 draw in 2013 when Luis Suarez bit Branislav Ivanovic. The Reds legend said: “I wasn’t aware of any of this but got back into the dressing room and then word comes in that Luis has bit (Branislav) Ivanovic. Someone asked him and he denied it. I think on that, that it cost Liverpool the league the next season.
“Suarez was banned for five or six games. Liverpool lost the league, I think, on goal difference. Suarez was the best player by a mile in the league, he scored almost every game. In the first four games he missed, Liverpool lost 1-0 to Southampton and drew at Swansea. They dropped five points.
“If Suarez is playing, they probably win both of them,”
Charlie Nicholas backs a draw at Stamford Bridge
Report: In Charlie Nicholas’ predictions for Sky Sports this week, the pundit jotted down a 2-2 draw between the Reds and Chelsea. The ex-Arsenal man said: “I think Frank Lampard wants to attack, which opens up the counter-attack scenario for Liverpool. They both got bad results in Europe through the week, they are making mistakes that they didn’t make last season and you can get at their defence.
“Pedro and Willian behind Tammy Abraham is a trio of danger. They need to find the killer pass in this game, which I think they will. Liverpool will pin them in when they can, but it will be an open game of football, which will see Liverpool drop their 100 percent record.”Verdict: Perhaps if there is anyone out there to beat Liverpool right now, Chelsea could be one of them. Abraham is in outrageously good form, bagging a hat-trick against Wolves and putting himself on seven goals in five Premier League games. And, in a similar vein of form, Mason Mount has three goals in five games, although he remains a doubt for the Blues.As Nicholas alluded to, both sides endured poor results in midweek, with Liverpool losing to Napoli and Chelsea losing to Valencia. However, with injuries to both sides, and the form of Abraham, the Scot may have got this one spot on.