Liverpool trio Coutinho, Lovren, Toure to miss big games

Jurgen Klopp has stressed his players have been made aware that the FA Cup is a big priority for Liverpool this season.

The 20-year-old midfielder scored the only goal in the Reds’ crucial 1-0 victory over the Potters on Tuesday night, which gave his side the all-important advantage ahead of the return leg at Anfield.

“But it’s a big, big shadow for us over the game that we can not ignore – we have two injuries [Coutinho and Lovren] and I honestly don’t know how serious they are. Kolo was cramp and that is not a problem but after three days it is not possible to play the next game but for next week it should not be a problem”, he explained.

Klopp mentioned the need for Liverpool to dip into the transfer market, saying, “In this moment with no centre back fit, I would say it is a situation where we have to think about going into the transfer market”.

Klopp, who is likely to travel to their FA Cup tie with Exeter with no senior central defenders – hit back at the Black Cats manager and rejected his claims.

Ibe is the seventh player now to be sidelined with a hamstring injury, joining Martin Skrtel, Divock Origi, Daniel Sturride, Jordan Rossiter, Dejan Lovren and Philippe Coutinho.

“Sometimes you are just unlucky with injuries and we’ve had a lot of bad luck recently”, he told the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.com). I think a few of the lads lost a bit of confidence after a slow start.

“We knew we needed to respond with a good performance first and foremost, a performance full of commitment and desire and we got that”.

And now former Liverpool manager Roy Evans has added to the debate and questioned what exactly Liverpool are doing in training that is causing players to break down so much. I am responsible for these things and if you want to make me responsible then it’s OK.

It should have been a joyous day for Liverpool FC, who now move closer to a first trophy under new manager Jürgen Klopp, but the mood was significantly dampened by more additions to the Reds’ seemingly ever-growing injury list.