MX23RW : Thursday, May 2 17:05:58| >> :120:11227:11227:

Jurgen Klopp hopes Liverpool duo Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita are back soon

Jurgen Klopp hopes Liverpool duo Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita are back soon
© Reuters
Thiago injured his calf during last week's home victory against Crystal Palace and Naby Keita hurt his foot in the midweek Carabao Cup win at Norwich.

Jurgen Klopp does not expect Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita to be sidelined for long after ruling them out of Saturday's Premier League game at Brentford.

Thiago sustained a calf injury during last week's home victory against Crystal Palace and fellow midfielder Keita hurt his foot in the midweek Carabao Cup win at Norwich.

On Thiago's injury, Klopp said: "It's not 100 per cent clear. It's a muscle in the calf. It's an issue, obviously. (He'll be back) after the international break probably. I don't think it would be anything earlier. We will have to see."

Keita was withdrawn at Carrow Road after catching his foot in the turf and Klopp added: "It's nothing really serious, but it keeps him out of the next game for sure, and maybe a little longer, we will have to see.

"It's nothing serious, but it's obviously painful and we have to see how we can deal with that."

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Neco Williams are all expected to return to contention for the trip to Brentford.

Klopp made clear his admiration for the newly-promoted London club, who sit ninth in the table after winning two of their first five games, against Arsenal and Wolves.

"The football they play is incredible," Klopp said. "The organisation they have is incredible, so Thomas (Frank) is obviously doing a brilliant job. Brentford is doing a brilliant job.

Naby Keita has been restricted to two Premier League starts this season
Naby Keita has been restricted to two Premier League starts this season (Joe Giddens/PA)

"How they recruit, how different they are, how they show with less money that it's really possible to create something special.

"It reminds me a lot of my time at Mainz when I was there because we had no money and had to be creative in the transfer market.

"Brentford have a chance against us, not just because it's football, but because of the football they play.

"They're an incredibly well-drilled football team, a 3-5-2. Everybody knows what to do, everybody is ready to make the extra yard."

Liverpool, joint-top with Chelsea, have conceded only one goal in their first five Premier League matches and Klopp attributed that to his squad's collective defensive mindset.

Klopp added: "Ali (goalkeeper Alisson) in moments, he's made brilliant saves, it's not that nobody has had shots on target against us, but yes, as a unit so far we have defended pretty well.

"Nobody wanted to hear it, but we have three new players, without buying them – Joel (Matip), Joe (Gomez) and Virgil (van Dijk).

"Against Crystal Palace, the last line we changed completely, they never played together before, but it's not about that, you just need a clear defending attitude and that's what we have."

ID:465167:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6215:

Click here for more stories about Jurgen Klopp

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Takumi Minamino in action for Liverpool on January 23, 2020
Read Next:
Tuesday's Liverpool transfer talk: Minamino, Neuhaus, Mbappe
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!