Jürgen Klopp Looking Forward to Unexpected Mid-Season Break

Having been knocked out of the FA Cup, Liverpool now have themselves a free weekend and eleven day break at the end of the month, and it’s hardly surprising the club will use that to get the players a bit of rest and head to Dubai.

It’s become something of a tradition since Jürgen Klopp arrived to take any gap in the schedule in January as a chance to head where the weather is warmer for a warm-weather mid-season training camp, and this year will be no different.

“The break that we are getting at the end of January is going to be 100% helpful for the boys with injuries,” Klopp said, confirming what many Liverpool fans had assumed—that, really, the FA Cup was never a priority this season.

With the Reds seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table pending Manchester City’s match against Wolves tonight and in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, it was a very, very distant third.

Some purists might not like to hear that, but it’s the reality, especially with some of the injury concerns in defence. And on that front, Klopp says he’s hopeful that both Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren will be fit to take part in the trip.

However, while Gomez is on track for a return at the start of February that might allow his inclusion in Dubai, and the early signs are positive for Lovren’s recovery, there has been another injury setback for Adam Lallana.

“I hope that Dejan and Joe make big steps to come forward,” Klopp added when asked if the centre halves will be involved in the mid-season camp. “For Adam it might be a bit early but we have a few players out and they need the time.

“We have Joël [Matip] now back as he was on the bench against Brighton but he as well will use the time for bone healing and it all helps so it’s good for us in that way.”