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For many fans, as disappointing as news of Joe Gomez' season-ending injury was, the general consensus was that Liverpool could probably survive without him. The defender had looked promising, but at 18 years of age and second choice across the back line, losing him meant losing depth and flexibility.
Losing Danny Ings, on the other hand, meant losing the striker many felt was the club's best player over the first two months and who most expected would start on Saturday against Tottenham. While acknowledging that Ings' loss is a blow, new manager Jürgen Klopp insists the club will be able to cope without their in-form attacker.
"We have Origi," said the manager. "I learned first that you do not think about players who are not available at any moment, because there is no chance if this is all you do. Firmino could play in the striker position, too, but we will have to decide if he should. In this moment—for next game—we have Daniel and we have Origi."
Klopp should also have Christian Benteke available to him soon, with the big striker expected to rejoin training with his teammates in time to be in contention to face Rubin Kazan in the Europa League next week. The same goes for Firmino, whether or not the energetic Brazilian ends up playing as a striker or attacking midfielder.
Ings is certainly a loss. He's the club's in-form attacker and a player who had seemed perfectly suited to the new manager. But Liverpool still have a pair of options up top, with more to return to action over the next week, and Klopp refused to budge from the assertion that for the weekend's match, two is more than enough.
"Two strikers," insisted the manager. "I don't need more. If you do have more than great, but you have to think first about how you can react."
