Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hopes to have key defender Virgil van Dijk back for his side’s game at Chelsea on Saturday.
The Dutch centre-back was taken off during the Reds’ win over Southampton because of a rib injury and has not been able to train this week.
Even so, Klopp suggested at a news conference on Friday that there is still a chance Van Dijk will be available for the game at Stamford Bridge.
“We have to wait. He didn’t train with the team so far,” said Klopp.
“Dejan Lovren played his first game in 10 weeks and most of that time he couldn’t train.
“Virgil is a world-class player and, when you miss a world-class player, it’s not cool.
“If Virgil is fit, he plays. If not, then obviously we have options.”
The two sides will lock horns in the Premier League three days after Eden Hazard’s brilliant goal secured Carabao Cup third-round victory for Chelsea over Klopp’s team.
Hazard, who came on as a substitute at Anfield, has been in blistering form and is set to start this weekend’s match.
And Klopp is hoping Liverpool are more successful this time in their efforts to deal with the Belgian.
“I didn’t need that game to know about Eden, it was already clear before,” he said.
“But no player is not defendable. They are difficult to defend.”
This post was last modified on 28/09/2018