Jürgen Kopp Updates Matip and Keïta Injury Status

A table-topping clash against Tottenham is set for Wednesday and
the Reds are scrambling for fitness.

On paper, a mid-week clash between December table-toppers
Tottenham and Liverpool under the lights seems an exciting sort of
thing. Yet in the midst of an overly congested, injury-plagued
season it’s hard to know quite what to expect.

Especially when it comes to Jürgen Klopp’s defending champion
Reds, who feel rather as though they’ve been without half their
team all season due to injuries—as any time a player makes his
return, another finds his way to the training table.

“I don’t know yet,” was Klopp’s answer regarding the role of
probably Liverpool’s biggest injury question mark for Wednesday
night’s Premier League clash, centre half Joël Matip. “Only two
days ago we played, he left the pitch with a back spasm.”

With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez out for the season, the team
physios worked “pretty much 24 hours” straight on Matip to get him
ready to face Tottenham alongside converted midfielder Fabinho, and
today’s training session will be telling.

Things might be a little more positive for Naby Keïta, though,
with the midfielder having at least been involved in a light
session yesterday, and amongst Liverpool’s injured players Klopp
thinks the Guinean international is most likely to return.

“Naby maybe,” Klopp said. “Naby was yesterday involved in the
extended warming up, I would say. There is another session today
and we will see how he reacts and then we will have to make a
decision about that. With the others, no.”