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Jurgen Klopp details two new injuries as Liverpool crisis worsens before Southampton tie
Liverpool will host Southampton at Anfield in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday night.
Jurgen Klopp claims Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo have both picked up injuries ahead of Wednesday's FA Cup clash with Southampton. The Reds are down to the bare bones and a number of key players are not expected to recover in time for the Anfield showdown.
The bad news keeps on coming for Klopp, who counts Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson among his long-term absentees. Liverpool fielded a number of teenagers in Sunday's Carabao Cup final as they battled to a spirited 1-0 win over Chelsea after extra-time.
It could be a similar story of inexperience in the starting XI and scant options on the bench when Southampton land on Merseyside to fight for a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Klopp has confirmed that Gravenberch is set to miss at least the next two games after suffering a ligament injury, while Endo is a doubt due to a knock picked up during the trip to Wembley.
"Ryan is not available, besides all the others who are not available," Klopp stated in his pre-match press conference. "It's a ligament injury, it could have been much worse.
"It's bad enough that he's ruled out for this game, and the next game, and we'll see [after that]. Wataru got a proper knock as well. I wouldn't say it's much improved but we'll see how it is."
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Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were all ruled out of the Carabao Cup final after late fitness tests, and Klopp admits it is still up in the air whether any of the trio will be back in contention against the Saints.
"We need miracles with a few players," he explained. "It's touch and go with a lot of players. Darwin, Mo, Dom - we have to see what they can do today [in training]. When the players arrive I can look in the eyes and see who might be ready, and then make the line-up."
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Academy products Bobby Clark, James McConnell and Jayden Danns were among those to bank high-profile game time against Chelsea, and Klopp has urged supporters to provide similarly noisy support on Wednesday to help carry his injury-hit side through.
"With what an atmosphere can do, it would really be helpful it we can create something special," he said. "It's a tricky time but somehow pretty positive and we would like to keep doing that."