Liverpool take on Norwich City in their season opener on Saturday and there’s a big chance both Jordan Henderson and Thiago could be missing from the starting line-up.
The two midfielders have joined late to the pre-season training camp and the manager has hinted that Henderson and Thiago could be eased into the side in the coming weeks.
“They are all here, all our players are here in the moment and that means we have to make selections,” said Klopp at his pre-match press conference.
“Of course, Hendo and Thiago started late to train so their pre-season, if you want, started last week and they need it because we don’t prepare for one game, we prepare for a full season with a lot of games in the most intense league in the world.
“Apart from that, all the others trained at least two weeks. And some of them trained five weeks. So I have exactly the situation I want to have.
“I hope it stays like this, that we so far we have no major injuries – apart from Robbo obviously, who is not available for the weekend. And Curtis, but he is fit again, it’s just a protocol and we will of course respect that.
“That’s it, that’s now the situation, a good situation but still I have to make some decisions.”
Thiago and Jordan Henderson to miss the Norwich match?
Jordan Henderson and Thiago were involved in international duty during the summer which is why they got an extended break.
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Many Premier League sides might be resting the players who were involved in international duty but with Gini Wijnaldum gone, the manager just cannot risk putting both Thiago and Henderson on the bench.
Liverpool need to gather momentum and even though Norwich are not the most strongest side, the likes of Naby Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain cannot be trusted upon wholeheartedly.
Jurgen Klopp might have hinted that the pair could be rested but we have a feeling that Thiago could be named in central midfield alongside Fabinho and possibly Milner. Jordan Henderson should start on the bench and might remain unused if they don’t stumble.
