Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is set to miss the Reds' Premier League tie against Sunderland on Saturday, manager Jürgen Klopp has confirmed.
Lallana picked up a groin injury against Spain, while on international duty with England, and missed his side's goalless draw with Southampton.The 28-year-old was not involved in Liverpool's training on Thursday, and looks set to miss out at the weekend.
Speaking at his press conference, as quoted by Liverpool'sofficial club website, Klopp revealed that while his side don't have particularly serious problems, Saturday's game will come too soon for Lallana.
We have not the biggest injury issues until now. We had a few, of course, but sometimes the next game came too quick, so we needed to make a change or we wanted to make a change."
One journalist offered a statistic, which stated Klopp has not named an unchanged side in 40 matches, to whichthe former Borussia Dortmund manager claimed he was unsure as to whether that run would come to an end at the weekend.
No idea! It's Thursday and two days until Saturday. 40 matches? I didn't know. I thought we didn't change too much, actually," Klopp continued.
There were different tournaments, 40 matches, with a few last season too. It's not that we say we cannot start with the same line-up again."
Klopp had previously told theLiverpool Echothat Lallana would be missing for 'two or three games.'Lallana started the season in fine form, scoring three Premier League goals and contributing five assists, impressing in midfield while breaking forward to support the regularfront line ofPhilippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
Should Liverpool win, theycan temporarily retake top spot from Chelsea on Saturday, with Antonio Conte's side taking on Tottenham Hotspur in the late kick-off.