Jürgen Klopp and the Liverpool Fitness Rundown

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The Liverpool manager gives you the lowdown on his team’s fitness ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s visit on Sunday.

With Tottenham Hotspur heading to Anfield this Sunday, it would sure make everyone feel better if Jürgen Klopp had all of his players available for selection. Current names on the team doctor’s questionnaire are Joël Matip, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Liverpool played without Alexander-Arnold at Genk due to an illness. Matip missed the match because of something that we hope isn't terrible happened to his knee. Shaqiri is on the mend from a muscle injury and was last seen on the bench in the 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Over a month ago.

There’s been some consternation about the fitness of Andy Robertson following the player’s substitution on Wednesday in Belgium. At his pre-Spurs presser, Klopp clarified that Robertson wasn’t injured. The manager just wanted to give the player some time off.

“Yeah, we just rested Robbo,” Klopp said.

“We thought that’s enough for today, 60 minutes. He could do it and did it. He is fine.

“Trent is fine. We have to see. I didn’t see him yet. Or he looked fine, if there is no setback. He was ill – ill enough to not travel with us, which is not a good sign, but yesterday he had a clearing session. And if it is as it was yesterday then he should be fine.

“With Joël, I don’t know 100 per cent.

“I saw Shaq this morning and spoke to him. It will take a little bit of time still. Big muscles. Unfortunately, it needs a little bit longer to heal.”

So, we have Robertson in the starting XI for sure and beyond that we have worry and anxiety. If Matip remains out of contention, we should see Joe Gomez partner Virgil Van Dijk at centre back. Unless Trent really does have a setback (He won’t, but if he does {he won’t}) then maybe it’s Gomez at right back and Dejan Lovren giving it another go with Van Dijk.

But Trent isn’t going to have a setback and that gives Klopp a pretty strong squad to pull from when making his team sheet for Spurs, even if Matip is unavailable. The biggest calls will be deciding which two players get to play alongside with Fabinho.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com