Liverpool will take on Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday and midfielder Fabinho is the latest player to be ruled out with an injury.
Klopp is already without the likes of Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, all of whom are recovering from long-term injuries. And all these absentees had forced the manager to use Fabinho in central defence for most of the season.
The Brazilian was supposed to reprise that same role against the Foxes as well but now he will miss the match due to a muscle injury, as confirmed by the club’s official website.
The statement read: “Liverpool will be without Fabinho for Saturday’s lunchtime encounter with Leicester City, Jürgen Klopp has confirmed.
“The Brazilian will sit out the contest at King Power Stadium due to a muscle issue.”
Jurgen Klopp went on to confirm this news and to make matters worse, the manager is not sure when Fabinho will be back to full fitness( really worrying news since Liverpool take on Leipzig in the Champions League next week).
Klopp told his pre-match press conference: “Fab will not be available. He suffered again a little muscle issue, so will be out for this game.
“I don’t know in the moment[when he’ll back], we will see. I really don’t know.”
Jurgen Klopp has revealed Fabinho will miss Liverpool’s clash with Leicester due to ‘a little muscle injury’ 🤕
When will their injury nightmare end? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UodCapF2iO
— Goal (@goal) February 12, 2021
This is a massive blow for the Liverpool boss since Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak are now the only two recognized senior central defenders in the first-team squad and both of them are yet to play a game for the Anfield outfit.
The injury to Fabinho means Jordan Henderson might have to play one more game in central defence since Klopp will want some sort of experience in the backline. And will be great news for the likes of Vardy and James Maddison.
Klopp also has the option of using youngsters like Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips at centre-back on Saturday but we doubt if the manager will want to take such a gamble against a team like Leicester City.
