Klopp delivers latest Liverpool injury update after Sion clash

The German, who oversaw his fourth European game – his second draw from an unbeaten record – felt that Sion, too, “can play better” so said it was “not easy” for both teams and “really, really difficult” to play in such cold weather.

Only two of those shots, both of them for Liverpool, found the net, but neither troubled Sion ‘keeper Andris Vanins with the Latvian shot stopper and his Belgian counterpart in Simon Mignolet, who didn’t face a single shot on net throughout the 90-minutes, largely reduced to spectator status.

“You can’t avoid the big teams when you want to go far”.

The Merseyside team are top of Group B and are away to FC Sion tonight knowing a win or draw will mean they win the group. “The most important thing is to enjoy my game and try to learn from every moment I get”.

“I am not surprised about their quality, and it had influence on our game, but in football, you have to take and accept the circumstances”, Klopp continued.

But Klopp revealed no new problems arose from the clash.

The Reds have already left a few players at home, though.

Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen and Alberto Moreno have all remained at Melwood, while Jordon Ibe is out with a virus.

“The injury is not that serious but we have to build up his resistance”.

Coutinho’s half-hour outing as a substitute marked his return after a hamstring strain and was one of a number of individual pluses for Liverpool in the wake of news this week of Daniel Sturridge’s own hamstring injury.

The midfielder also paid tribute to Brad Smith, the Aussie full-back enjoying an impressive full debut at left back after impressing from the sub’s bench against Southampton.

Liverpool have not won three in succession in Europe since the qualifiers against Gomel (twice) and Hearts in 2012.

His latest absence leaves Liverpool light of options up front, with only Christian Benteke and Divock Origi fully fit among their out-and-out strikers – as summer signing Danny Ings is likely to miss the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.

And Henderson has praised him for his performance, labelling it as “outstanding”. Either way, Firmino will have a sizeable task on his hands.

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson feels that the Reds losing to Newcastle United last weekend was not necessarily a bad thing as it has shut up any talk of winning the Premier League this term.