Klopp reveals Liverpool injury reaction; aims fresh dig at Pickford
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed how he reacted to the news that Joe Gomez had sustained a serious injury, while he has made a fresh dig at Jordan Pickford.
Already without Virgil van Dijk – who was on the end of a controversial challenge from Pickford – for most of the season after anterior cruciate ligament surgery, the loss of Gomez again is set to leave Klopp with just one senior central defender in Joel Matip.
Matip has had injury problems of his own, having played only three times this season and only just returning from a five-match absence against Manchester City before the international break, and it is generally accepted he cannot play three matches a week.
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When asked about how he reacted when he heard the news about Gomez, Klopp said: “My English is not good enough to describe exactly what went through my mind.
“My head physio told me and everybody was sure it was serious immediately. No doubts. No hope it was only a little one. Injuries are part of the deal for players and managers. How they happen is something we are constantly worried about.
“With the Virgil van Dijk situation, it was not because of the intensity of the game. It was because of a very strange decision by one person [Jordan Pickford] which made it hard to deal with.
“With Joey, it was absolutely because of the intensity of the season. That’s something we have to worry about. That’s not an excuse. That’s just an explanation.”