Kloop eyes new signings as win comes at a cost
Print Edition
Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Stoke City in an English League Cup semifinal first leg came at a cost on Tuesday, with Philippe Coutinho and Dejan Lovren hurt and manager Juergen Klopp acknowledging he may need new signings.
After Coutinho and Lovren walked off with hamstring injuries, Jordon Ibe converted from close range before halftime after Joe Allen diverted a cross from Adam Lallana into his path.
Fourth-choice defender Kolo Toure was also holding the back of his right leg in the final minutes.
For Klopp, who went into the match missing first-team players such as Martin Skrtel, Daniel Sturridge, and captain Jordan Henderson, two more injuries tarnished the victory.
“It’s a big shadow over the game for us,” Klopp said. “I don’t know how serious, and we have to wait for this. In this situation with no center-backs fit, I would say (transfers) it’s something we could look at.”
Klopp decided to replace his only fit striker, Christian Benteke, with attacking midfielder Lallana, who comprised a three-man attack along side Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
The trio ensured Liverpool began the game at a relentless pace — harrying Stoke’s defense when it had possession and once the ball was won back, they passed it swiftly and intricately, pulling opponents out of position with their movement.
Firmino and Lallana both had shots well saved by Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland, before Liverpool’s momentum was abruptly halted when Coutinho went down off the ball, clutching his left hamstring.
He was replaced by Ibe, and Liverpool was disjointed further when Lovren stayed down after stretching to make a block and hurting his right leg.
With no central defenders on the substitute’s bench, Klopp brought on midfielder James Milner, and Lucas Leiva partnered Toure in a makeshift central defense.
But Ibe delivered Liverpool’s breakthrough. Lallana latched on to a neat forward pass down the right by Milner and played the ball into the penalty area. Allen helped the ball on to Ibe, who controlled and poked the ball past Butland.
The second leg is at Anfield on January 26. Everton was hosting Manchester City in the other semifinal yesterday.
Liverpool begins its FA Cup campaign with a trip to Exeter tomorrow, looking to go beyond the semifinal stage it reached last season.
Klopp has 11 players out injured, with Premier League home games against Arsenal and Manchester United coming up next week.
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