Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed vice-captain James Milner will not be available to play in their Champions League group stage game against Ajax after the midfielder picked up a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Milner Absence Adds to Lengthy Liverpool Injured List
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri Also Miss Out Against Ajax
There was more encouraging news for Liverpool fans though. Klopp also gave positive updates on the injured trio of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri, although all three are also likely to miss the Ajax fixture.
Klopp said: “They are all getting closer to being back, [but] not close enough for tomorrow, I think.
“With Naby, we have to check there still, but with the other two, they will not be ready.
“Trent looks quite good, but nobody gave me the green light for tonight so he will not be in it [training]. He hasn’t trained with the team and stuff like this.
“I saw him today on the pitch doing his rehab stuff outside, so that looks already good, but I cannot decide when this rehab stuff is finished. I take the players only in the moment when I get the green light and that didn’t happen yet.
“But from my rather experienced eye from what I saw today, it will not be that long anymore with Trent.”
Virgil van Dijk ‘Doing Really Well’
Another Liverpool absentee is centre-back Virgil van Dijk – who is still recovering from a knee injury sustained in the Merseyside derby earlier this season. Klopp revealed that the Dutch international is progressing well, as van Dijk continues his lengthy rehabilitation:
Klopp said: “Considering the circumstances, he’s doing really well.
“His knee doesn’t look good, to be honest; it doesn’t look like a knee should look – but it looks good for a knee with that surgery and the time he had since the surgery.
“So, yes, of course, we are in contact and he’s doing well, that’s true.”
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