Liverpool FC head to Southampton, their de facto farm club, for a Premier League fixture tomorrow that sees the Reds amidst an injury crisis in goal. Adrian, currently working as the first team option due to a calf injury to No. 1 Alisson Becker, is a doubt on Saturday.
He suffered a swollen ankle after a colliding with a fan who ran on the pitch after Liverpool’s penalty shoot out UEFA Super Cup victory over Chelsea in midweek. Watch the video at this link. He could play, but if he doesn’t, then Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will have to go with either Andy Lonergan, who was with the club during their preseason tour in the U.S. or youngster Caoimhin Kelleher.
That’s not ideal as Kelleher himself is recovering from a wrist injury. Meanwhile, midfielder Naby Keita is out due to a hip muscle injury.
Klopp set the problem is minor, but he also refused to place a time table on the former RB Leipzig player’s return.
Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction:
Divock Origi Roberto Firmino Mohamed Salah
Georginio Wijnaldum Fabinho Jordan Henderson
Trent Alexander-Arnold Joel Matip Virgil van Dijk Andrew Robertson
Adrian
Liverpool FC at Southampton FC FYIs
Jurgen Klopp news conference video:
Kickoff: Saturday August 17th, St. Mary’s 3pm
Google result probability: Liverpool FC win 65% Draw 21% Southampton win 14%
Prediction: Liverpool FC 1, Southampton 0
Despite the injury crisis in goal, I think the Reds will find a way to obtain a result, as they will rely on their stellar back line to make things happen and get things done.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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