Klopp Gives Fitness Updates on Firmino, Jones, Gomez, Keïta, Milner, and Others

In his pre-West Ham press conference, Jürgen Klopp updated the press on his squad’s availability and fitness timelines.

Bobby Firmino’s injury on Wednesday is serious, and the Brazilian will be sidelined for some time, according to the manager.

Bobby is not good news with a serious hamstring injury, really unfortunate. We don’t know exactly how long he will be out but it will be not now after the international break directly. We have to work on that.

Joe Gomez, who has a calf issue, and Curtis Jones will be unavailable on Sunday, though they, too, are expected back following the international break. Curtis was “unlucky” to pick up an injury in training that will keep him out:

Curtis is a completely different story [to Firmino], he was very unlucky in training – he got a finger that scratched the eye. I had a lot of injuries to players in my career, that was not involved. He is on the way back but we have to see how long exactly.

James Milner and Naby Keïta, too, will remain sidelined until after the international break, though the length of their absences remain uncertain.

We will see. For them, I have hope for after the international break but I don’t know exactly.

We have to wait. That’s two weeks and a few days from now on, so that’s what I would really wish for but I cannot promise that. But that’s what we are working on.

After returning from injury against Atletico Madrid, Fabinho and Thiago bolster Liverpool’s strength in midfield, and have been confirmed as being in contention for the match on Sunday.

In more positive news, Harvey Elliott’s rehabilitation continues going well. The youngster suffered a fracture and dislocation against Leeds earlier in the year, though no set timescale for his return is available.

Videos of his rehabilitation — albeit vertical rather than lateral movement — have been heartening, and the manager is impressed with his efforts and attitude despite having such a setback so early in his senior career.

Whichever person you speak to from the rehab department, you hear that he is so determined, he is really very positive all the time with us here.

It is nice to see him smiling the whole day and working hard. He will be back, but how soon I don’t know.