LIVERPOOL’S mounting defensive problems have deepened after Fabinho was ruled out of tomorrow’s trip to Leicester City.
The Brazilian midfielder has been redeployed as an emergency centre-back this season due to the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Fabinho has been ruled out of Liverpool’s trip to LeicesterCredit: Reuters
Fabinho had only just returned from a hamstring injury for last weekend’s 4-1 humbling defeat by Manchester City.
Yet the 27-year-old suffered a relapse this week and Jurgen Klopp revealed ‘a small muscle injury’ has ruled him out of the game against Leicester.
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And Fabinho now faces a fight to be ready for the the first leg of Liverpool’s last 16 Champions League clash with RB Leipzig next week.
But it does mean that Reds boss Klopp is set to hand a Premier League debut to either Ozan Kabak or Ben Davies alongside Jordan Henderson.
The German said: “With the boys we have had some sessions together where we could work with the defensive setup and that is really important.
“And Nat Phillips has done well (in defence previously) and Hendo.”
Joel Matip is already out for the rest of the season after suffering ankle ligament damage in the 3-1 win at Tottenham last month.
Talisman Virgil van Dijk, widely-regarded as the best centre-half in the world, is out after undergoing surgery for a ruptured ACL.
And Joe Gomez is also in a race against time to be fit for the title run-in after suffering a serious knee injury while on England duty.
Klopp acknowledged that whatever his centre-back pairing he selects will face a difficult task coming up against Jamie Vardy.
He added: “Jamie Vardy is obviously a proper challenge in this league.
“The way he plays, the way he gets set up by his mates, that is a proper job to do but we can only do it as a whole team.
“We have to avoid the passes to him, Jamie is a world class player in a specific area of the pitch and with his speed it is really tricky.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
