Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Emre Can will not be fit for the Premier League game against Leicester City at Anfield on Saturday (10 September). The German international has been nursing an ankle injury of late and was thought to be in contention to face the champions – but Klopp has admitted the match has come too soon.
Klopp did, however, reveal Can is set to return to full training either tomorrow or on Friday, meaning he is likely to be back in first-team action before too long.
The Liverpool boss also confirmed he will be deprived of the services of Estonian defender Ragnar Klavan this weekend. The 30-year-old, who joined the Reds over the summer, currently had a knee injury and Klopp is still unsure when he will return to action. We will know more about that this afternoon, the Liverpool manager said, according to The Mirror.
By contrast, Klopp revealed French defender Mamadou Sakho has returned to full fitness ahead of the Leicester game. Sakho, 26, was suspended last season after violating an anti-doping law and was linked with a loan move away from Liverpool in recent weeks.
However, Klopp insisted he has no issues with the defender and said Sakho does not need to regain his trust. Now its about making Mama fit after a long time out. Then we will see what happens, the Liverpool boss shared. He doesnt have to gain my trust. He didnt play for a long time. Then you think how can you get match time?
The Liverpool manager also discussed agent Mino Raiolas recent comments about Klopps treatment of the recently-departed Mario Balotelli. The Italian striker joined French club Nice during the summer transfer window and Raiola, his agent, claimed Klopp behaved like a s**t towards the end of his time at Liverpool.
But the manager played down the situation during his pre-match press conference. Asked how upset he was about the comments, the Liverpool manager explained: 0.0. I know him , thats all. Not interested. All good. Free world.
