LONDON: Jurgen Klopp has claimed Liverpool need “miracles” to get their walking injury back in time to quadruple their bid.
Klopp’s side defied a string of injuries to win the League Cup 1-0 against Chelsea in Sunday’s final at Wembley.
But Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch added to the club’s mounting fitness crisis when he was stretchered off in the first half.
Gravenberch will miss at least two games, starting with Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Southampton at Anfield.
Wataru Endo is also doubtful for the visit of Championship chasers Southampton after leaving Wembley on crutches and wearing a protective boot.
That leaves Klopp without 13 first-team players, including Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai, as the Reds look to add the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League to last weekend’s silverware.
“We need miracles with a few players. I don’t want to rule them out for too long,” Klopp told reporters on Tuesday.
“But it’s touch and go with a lot of players who weren’t available for the final: Darwin, Mo, Dom – we’ll have to see what they can do (on Tuesday).
“In an ideal world you would think about things like that but obviously we don’t live in an ideal world so we’ll see when the players arrive and get checked.”
Klopp will likely have to rely on a number of the younger players who impressed at Wembley, with 19-year-olds Bobby Clark and James McConnell likely to start against Saints.
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Although the pair have only started once in cup competitions this season, Klopp is confident in their ability to progress.
“First of all, he doesn’t have to show anything. Our guys have played in the youth teams and under-21s and only recently came and trained with us: absolutely no experience, but a lot of talent and they showed it,” he said. .
“What these guys have to do is really enjoy what they’re doing. They have to defend like men or they can’t play.”
“I saw them do it on Sunday and obviously it helped and gave confidence and there are so many things you can’t buy.
Liverpool have taken preliminary steps to hold an end-of-season parade regardless of whether they win any further trophies.
The Reds are looking to end Klopp’s nine-year reign following the German’s recent bombshell announcement that he will step down at the end of the season.
“That’s the one part that’s not so cool that it can be seen that way” (in parting with him), he said.
“I don’t think it makes any sense. But other than that, I’m a big fan of showing off the trophies and if there’s a parade I’ll be on the bus, no question about it.”
