Mamadou Sakho posts injury update ahead of Liverpool v Exeter

Liverpool are set to be without Philippe Coutinho for a month, after suffering a hamstring injury in the League Cup win at Stoke.

The ESPN FC crew debate whether or not Jurgen Klopp’s “intense style” is the root cause of Liverpool’s extensive injury list.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, right, talks to player Emre Can after Liverpool defeated Stoke City 1-0 in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinal soccer match between Stoke City and Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke on Trent, England, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016.

With Coutinho expected to spend up to three weeks on the sidelines and Lovren facing up to 10 days out, Liverpool remain hopeful that the prognosis of Ibe’s injury will only restrict him for tomorrow’s trip to St James Park.

“Everyone wants to see the sensation (of an upset) and if this is a chance for Exeter then they have to take it”. We don’t have too many centre-backs, so it is an idea. “I’m sure the lads who are out will be working extra hard to get back fit”. I will take a few players with me!

Liverpool now has 11 players injured, six with hamstring problems.

Klopp has admitted he is looking to sign another centre-back and Liverpool have been linked with Inter’s Andrea Ranocchia, Schalke’s Joel Matip and Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotic.

“We have had a change of manager this season. It is not easy, but we will try and find one”.

Possible debutants included Ilori and wingers Ryan Kent and Sheyi Ojo, recalled from loans at Coventry and Wolves respectively. “We know they are a good team and had a respectable result against Sunderland in the Capital One Cup [in August], losing 6-3”.

Klopp said: “We have the situation that we have”. But it will be a team who haven’t played too often together, that’s the truth.

The manager also revealed that he opted to start Coutinho – who was to last 18 minutes – against Stoke only because Ibe had been ill and Christian Benteke had an achilles problem.

And, due to the number of players now out of action, Klopp admits it means he’ll be forced to rotate for the third-round game.