Liverpool: Latest injury blow doesn’t help the Reds during crisis

Liverpool failed to take points at Anfield for the fifth time in a row and now must look to Fulham without on-loan defender, Ozan Kabak, who is a major doubt for Sunday’s Premier League meeting.

The former champions of England run the risk of not making Champions League football for next season following a loss in a direct top-four duel with Chelsea on Thursday night.

It took an outstanding finish by Chelsea’s attacker, Mason Mount, to unmount Liverpool’s hopes of a point or three. This was their sixth home game without scoring a goal and have conceded in their last five at the same place.

The scoring issue is something that could improve soon with the return of Diogo Jota and Naby Keita – but things at the back have taken another hit.

While welcoming back the trusted Fabinho, Liverpool loses Ozan Kabak to a “little problem” he picked up in their 1-0 loss to the Blues.

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"Ozan had yesterday after the game a little problem. He has played a lot of games now and we will see if he is ready for Fulham.It doesn’t look like in the moment, so we will have to find solutions."

For now, the manager believes he will be without the Turkish centre-back. Even though he played five games that included three different partners, Kabak was adjusting nicely to the Reds style of play.

The 20-year-old’s injury setback is an untimely blow, to say the least. But the manager ended the news with some positive announcements.

Nat Phillips and Ben Davies could both be ready for the visit from the London club, as per the Anfield boss.

Jurgen Klopp on Phillips and Davies availability:

"Nat I think will be ready, Ben as well.For Ben, it’s not easy. In our situation, we brought him in and he has to adapt, all these kind of things.He is a really good player, but we just have to try to make sure that the people who play with each other… if you bring one new player and then a second new player, it changes everything. We have to see."

Will we see Nat Phillips and Ben Davies as Liverpool’s 20th centre-back pairing this weekend?

20th time lucky? It is highly unlikely we will see the two inexperienced boys partner each other this weekend at Anfield – Klopp will most certainly use Fabinho and choose between the duo to play alongside him.

Liverpool have now lost Ozan Kabab, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Jordan Henderson to injury problems – besides Ozan, all four of them have been sidelined for longer than a month (or more) period this season.

The manager did touch on his midfield and how he would love to have Fabinho back in the middle of the park – a place he is more suited to and an area that has undoubtedly weakened this season due to a plethora of injuries in the Merseyside camp.

The German on the Brazilian midfielder:

"It would be great.We had a problem with Nat Phillips, who has played together with Ozan, and he couldn’t play, so we had to make a decision.Do we take an inexperienced pairing on to the pitch or do we take Fab? We decided on Fab. (Via: liverpoolecho.co.uk)"

Adding to the negative vibes at Anfield, they are at risk of losing number 6 at home. A solution has to be found now with Fulham being the best opponent to break their duck against. However, they’ve been hard to beat in recent weeks.

Three points will not be easy to come by against the Craven Cottage side. The Reds are 19th on the form table and are only there because Southampton has been a lot poorer than them.

Jurgen Klopp is at the point he has little to lose and everything to gain with a little bravery. Despite poor form, the outfielders have shown a lack of desire – but it must have a lot to do with losing the title race so early.

How should Jurgen Klopp lineup at the back for Fulham on Sunday?