Jurgen Klopp on how Liverpool will combat left-back injury crisis
Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Liverpool's current injury issues at left-back are «really tough» for the club to deal with.
The Reds have been without first-choice left-back Andrew Robertson since mid-October, with the Scotland international being forced to undergo surgery on a shoulder injury suffered while on international duty.
Kostas Tsimikas had been performing admirably in Robertson's absence in recent months, however he too is now set for an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a broken collarbone in Liverpool's 0-0 draw with Arsenal.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Burnley on Boxing Day, Klopp admitted that having no fit natural left-backs available will make things «really tough» for his team:
«We will see. Can Joey [Gomez] play all the games coming up now until – I don’t know when – Robbo will be back?» said Klopp.
«Kosti is now definitely out for a while, so I don’t know, we have to see. I didn’t have time now to think it through, but somebody will play the position I am pretty sure. It is for us obviously really tough, it’s really tough.
»You have injuries sometimes and we accept all of them, but a broken collarbone is really bad because it just takes long. Same what Robbo had: a different injury but that takes long as well, how we all know.
«We all know we need luck in these moments to get through and now we will have Joey there and just have to make sure we put him in cotton wool and we have to make sure he is always ready for the games.»
Joe Gomez replaced Tsimikas at full-back for the second half of Liverpool's draw with Arsenal, making him the most likely — if not natural — replacement for the stricken Greek international and Andy Robertson moving forward.
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