Liverpool hopeful injured stars will return to full fitness in time for Champions League Final

Robertson joined Liverpool's lengthening injury list on Tuesday.
Getty Images
David Lynch8 May 2019

Jurgen Klopp’s injured stars face a race against time after Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League final with an unforgettable comeback win over Barcelona.

The Reds were already short of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana going into Tuesday’s game at Anfield.

And they were hit with a further blow at half-time as Andy Robertson signalled his inability to continue.

But, after somehow overcoming those setbacks to clinch a 4-0 victory, Klopp’s men now have 25 days to restore as many players as possible to full fitness for the final.

In Pictures | Liverpool vs Barcelona, Champions League | 07/05/2019

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As things stand, Keita is the only one of Liverpool’s sidelined sextet who has no chance of making it back.

The Guinean picked up an adductor injury at Camp Nou last week that Klopp revealed is likely to keep him out of action for up to “two months”.

Elsewhere, though, there should be better news for the Reds.

Salah’s post-Newcastle concussion kept him out of yesterday’s second leg, but he is expected to be in contention for this weekend’s meeting with Wolves.

Salah missed Tuesday's win but could be back for the weekend.
REUTERS

Oxlade-Chamberlain is in a similar position after suffering a muscular injury, with Klopp saying of the Englishman last night: “Ox was not available but only [because] we rested him - he’ll hopefully be an option for the weekend.”

And Robertson seemed confident in his chances of a quick comeback on Tuesday, saying: “It doesn’t feel the best at the minute but I’ll get a scan tomorrow.

"They’re confident that it’s just a nerve or whatever and it can be maybe a couple of days, but we’ll wait and see.

“We can’t really comment until I get the scan, but I’ll be saying my prayers tonight.”

The picture is less clear, however, on Firmino and Lallana.

Firmino was another notable absentee.
Action Images via Reuters

Liverpool’s Brazilian No.9 must hope the groin injury that restricted him to a substitute appearance in Spain and kept him out of yesterday’s Anfield return clears up in time for Madrid.

Meanwhile, Lallana has not been part of a matchday squad since missing April’s visit to Southampton with what was initially described as a ‘minor’ concern.

The club’s medical staff are sure to be working at full capacity in the next few weeks to ensure Klopp’s squad is as close to full strength as possible on June 1.

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