LIVERPOOL face a fresh defensive crisis after makeshift centre-back Fabinho limped off injured against Midtjylland.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp later lamented the injury as the “last thing we needed” with star man Virgil van Dijk already out for the season.
Liverpool face a new defensive crisis after makeshift centre-back Fabinho limped off injured against MidtjyllandCredit: Reuters
The Brazilian pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring problem in the first halfCredit: AP:Associated Press
The Brazilian midfielder, filling in for crocked Van Dijk, pulled up while running during the first half of the Champions League group stage clash.
Fabinho, 27, appeared to suggest he had hurt his hamstring.
And the Liverpool ace was forced to limp off the field to be replaced by youngster Rhys Williams.
Williams, 19, was playing for Kidderminster Harriers in the National League North last season – five tiers below the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp now faces an anxious wait to determine how badly injured Fabinho is.
The German boss said: “[It was] the last thing we needed. I don’t know, he felt his hamstring so that’s not good.
“He didn’t feel it that much he said he could’ve played on but not sprinting so that doesn’t help.
“We will see, we will have to do a scan and see but clearly it’s not good.”
Klopp is already without Van Dijk, who sustained a potential season-ending ACL injury in the Merseyside derby against Everton.
And Joel Matip is also currently sidelined for the Premier League champions.
Should Fabinho be ruled out for any length of time, that would leave just Joe Gomez as Liverpool’s only recognised senior centre-back.
And the decision to sell Dejan Lovren to Zenit St Petersburg without replacing him looks to be coming back to haunt Klopp early in the new season.
Indeed, reports claim Liverpool are already lining up a January swoop for Schalke star Ozan Kabak.
Fabinho has been filling in for crocked Virgil van Dijk, with Joel Matip also injuredCredit: AFP or licensors
Fabinho’s potential injury leaves Liverpool with just one recognised senior centre-back in Joe GomezCredit: PA:Press Association
The Turkey international, 20, was valued at £40million before the coronavirus pandemic.
And Schalke are willing to accept a bid of £30m for him.
However, Liverpool believe they can snare Kabak for an initial £20m, despite his Schalke contract running until 2024.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
