Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino could face Watford
Tuesday 26 February 2019 14:16, UK
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is hopeful Roberto Firmino will be able to feature against Watford on Wednesday.
Firmino was substituted during Sunday's goalless draw with Manchester United after rolling his ankle at Old Trafford.
However, Klopp says the injury is not as bad as first feared and believes the Brazilian could potentially face both Watford in midweek and Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
"It looks good. We were obviously lucky," said Klopp. "It was not as serious as we thought at first.
"If Bobby goes down and leaves the pitch it is always a bad sign because he is a pretty hard boy.
Trending
- Amorim questions decision-making from Rashford's camp
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Bayern want Dortmund's English winger Gittens
- Papers: Arsenal fear Saka could be out until March
- PL Predictions: Forest to turn up heat on stubborn Ange
- Usyk vs Fury 2: Fury 'robbed'? What do the stats reveal?
- Cross and Chisnall suffer shock exits in marathon Ally Pally session
- Amorim's Sporting replacement set to be sacked - Portuguese media
- Double blow! Sterling out 'for a while' - so will Arsenal sign a winger?
- Saka out for 'many weeks' with hamstring injury
- 'The fight's too ******* close!' | What was Fury told ahead of final round?
"Because we play tomorrow, it will be very close for that, but he has a big chance for the derby."
When asked if Firmino had a chance to play on Wednesday, Klopp added: "Because it is Bobby I would say yes, but I don't know if I would use that chance.
"Writing him off is a big mistake because he recovers pretty quickly."
Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi could come into the starting line-up as a direct replacement for Firmino, while Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri and Adam Lallana are other options from midfield.
Klopp is confident he has a suitable replacement for Firmino if he is unable to face the Hornets.
"There is still a lot of quality," said Klopp. "We have changed a few things throughout the season but obviously Bobby was pretty much always involved.
"It's possible that is not the case this time but we have options and we will use one at the start of the game and then possibly a second one.
"If there is anything good in that, it is that Watford have no clue what we are doing."
Watford travel to Anfield on the back of three consecutive victories and Klopp says it would be a mistake by Liverpool to focus on the upcoming Merseyside derby, rather than their more immediate opponent.
"I really don't think ever in the history of football has a manager thought about a game on Sunday when they play on Wednesday," said Klopp.
"Watford is a difficult one, they are on a good run and they have different styles of play.
"Against the top six they don't have a lot of possession but they are a good counter-attacking threat, good from set pieces and second balls.
"It is different when they play other teams, they are much more proactive. We need to be ready for both."