Knee Injury Likely to Sideline Clyne for Stoke City Match

While centre halves and strikers and midfielders drop off injured by the week it seems, Liverpool have been fairly fortunate this season with the health of starting fullbacks Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno. And it’s a good thing, too, given it’s probably the thinest position in the squad.

That good fortune when it came to Liverpool’s fullback staying fit could only last so long, though, and at his press conference ahead of Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final second leg against Stoke City, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp revealed that right back Nathaniel Clyne was unlikely to play due to a knee injury.

"Clyne got a knock," said Klopp when asked about the injury situation. "He’s a tough boy, but I think we have to leave him out of training and leave him out that night. We do have Flanno, but ninety minutes or more is maybe not the best thing for him. But he is ready. Of course it would be better if Clyne was fit."

After making his return to action just last week—and that after being sidelined for more than a year—an entire match for Jon Flanagan does seem a tough ask. Still, if Flanagan doesn’t play, the choices would be limited, with either youngster Connor Randall getting the start or a midfielder playing out of position.

Klopp also updated the status of defender Dejan Lovren, who took in his first full training session today after missing three weeks. While he could be a bench option, the manager said that given his time out injured and with Steven Caulker ineligible, the plan was for Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho to start.

"If nothing happens in the next 24 hours with Kolo and Mana then they will probably play again," said the Liverpool manager. "Dejan, after three weeks out, he trained. The complete session, so that was good, but it’s three weeks out and so we have to see with him."