Liverpool FC – New Benteke injury woe for the Reds!
To add insult to injury, or more aptly, injury to injury, Jürgen Klopp has been handed yet more bad news after learning Christian Benteke is the latest addition to the growing injury list.
Rob Joyce reports via the Daily Express that the Belgian has picked up a knee ligament injury during the draw with Southampton on Sunday and joins Daniel “crystal glass” Sturridge on the injury list along with Jordan Henderson, Joe Gomez and Danny Ings. This leaves Jürgen Klopp with only misfiring Divock Origi as the only first team striker left.
There is of course reservist Jerome Sinclair who in my opinion will probably offer more than Origi in any case. The 19 year-old from Birmingham is currently in a contract dispute with the club and this would be an ideal chance for him to show the powers that be what they’ll be missing out on should he go elsewhere. By what I’ve seen, this will be rather a lot. The youngster has pace, and power along with a good eye for goal. Actually a lot like Sturridge only (hopefully) made of sterner stuff!
It’s also unclear whether Benteke will be fit in time to face Chelsea at the weekend and the same goes for Stirridge who, was initially described as having a minor “knock”, now looks as if he’s odds-on to miss Saturday’s crunch fixture as well as tonight’s game. Roberto Firmino has been touted by Klopp as a possible option as striker but given his apparent frailty, himself recently returning from injury also, looks like another casualty waiting to happen.
Tonight’s opponents, Bournemouth are also struggling with their fair share of injuries. Leading striker Callum Wilson remains out with a knee injury as well as Tommy Elphick so they will also be under strength.
Let’s see how tonight’s game turns out. Klopp hinted that he’ll be looking to field a mix of experience and youth so it’ll be interesting to see what selection he makes.
With the Liverpool team looking more like a scene from M.A.S.H than a group of highly tuned athletes, expectations need to be tempered somewhat over the coming weeks until key players return.
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