Jurgen Klopp faces Liverpool transfer decision after…

Jurgen Klopp faces Liverpool transfer decision after injury list grows

If the teamsheet prompted eyebrows to be raised, the post-match update sparked full-on meltdown among the more jittery sections of the Liverpool fanbase.

An inexperienced Reds side had just been beaten 3-0 by Strasbourg at Anfield in their final pre-season friendly when Jurgen Klopp addressed the surprise absence of both Naby Keita and Curtis Jones.

"Naby is ill and Curtis felt a little bit and couldn't take any risks," explained the Liverpool boss, who was already without injured quintet Alisson Becker, Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Diogo Jota.

That was sufficient reason for social media to again be whipped into a frenzy over the Reds' insistence they will not be moving for a new midfielder in this summer transfer window.

While Keita will be back in time for Saturday's Premier League opener at promoted Fulham, matters aren't quite so clearcut for Jones.

The 21-year-old is currently wearing a protective boot - a matter of routine at Liverpool as a precaution - and while the issue is not thought to be major, the injury is still to be properly assessed. After a previous campaign hampered by lengthy spells on the sidelines, even a short time out would be a blow to Jones.

With Klopp last week revealing Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered a "serious" hamstring complaint earlier in pre-season that is likely to rule him out for a large chunk of the pre-World Cup section of the campaign, the Reds' are likely to be missing at least two of their eight senior midfielders at Craven Cottage.

Nevertheless, Liverpool were confident enough in their options to this week allow 19-year-old Tyler Morton, who made his first-team breakthrough last term, join Championship side Blackburn Rovers on loan for the season.

The possibility of a switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation during the course of the campaign, particularly once Darwin Nunez is settled, would see a number 10 role ideal for Roberto Firmino or summer signing Fabio Carvalho, and would ease the burden on the midfield. Just two deeper-lying roles would be required.

And, of course, Klopp has been consistent in his view he is happy with his engine room personnel, ranging from the defensive capabilities of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, the passing game of Thiago Alcantara, the experience of James Milner, the thrust of Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain and the youth of Jones, Carvalho and Harvey Elliott.

Leaving a pathway open for the young trio to feature is important for Klopp, who has spoke towards the end of last season of this being a term of "transition" in some ways for Liverpool.

“You have to leave the doors open for the boys," said the Reds boss. "I really don’t understand the discussion about the midfielders

"If nobody wants to leave – and no player came to me with that request yet and I don’t expect it really, to be honest – there is no need for a new midfielder. But if the situation stays like it is, then tell me why we should sign someone?"

Whether the long-term injury to Oxlade-Chamberlain - and the results of the assessment of the setback for Jones - are sufficient to have changed the situation during the final four weeks of the transfer window, only Klopp will determine.

But, as it stands, those supporters wanting Liverpool to sign a new midfielder are going to have to wait.

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