Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge both look set to miss Liverpool's Premier League opener at Watford on Saturday.
Neither player trained at Melwood yesterday and they are unlikely to feature at Vicarage Road.
The star Brazilian has been undergoing treatment on a back problem over the past week as speculation about his future rumbles on.
Coutinho was pictured driving in and out of the Reds' training base but didn't join his fellow players for training and instead had a check-up with medical staff.
Liverpool rejected an improved offer of £90.4million from Barcelona on Wednesday and remain adamant he's not for sale at any price.
Sturridge continues to work with the club's rehab staff having limped out of last week's Audi Cup win over Bayern Munich due to discomfort in his thigh.
Klopp on transfer plans
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool will only sign their No.1 transfer targets in the remaining weeks of the window.
The Reds have brought in Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Dominic Solanke so far but have been frustrated in their pursuits of other targets.
They were forced into an embarrassing climb down over Virgil van Dijk after allegedly tapping up the Southampton defender while RB Leipzig rejected huge bids for Naby Keita.
But despite having a number of injuries ahead of the Premier League opener with Watford, Klopp has no plans to add new faces for the sake of it.
Klopp confirms Jordan Henderson has recovered from a virus.
The Liverpool skipper will be involved against Watford.
He missed the trip to Dublin last weekend.
Danny Ings update
Danny needs games.
He looks really good in training, when he is 100 percent.
But there was no time for him to play in pre-season games.
He is ready to go. He is as fit as he can be. No problem with injuries.
He will play tonight with the U23S but is not really an option.
Is the squad strong enough?
Lallana has an unfortunate injury.
Daniel is already close for the weekend but he won’t play. He will be fit for Tuesday.
Clyne had a problem from the first day.
With Phil, it makes it four players.
Even now, I have to make hard decisions because players did well in pre-season .
I could go this season with the squad but we will see what happens until 31st.
On transfer plans
If we bring in players, we bring them in because I like them.
If not, then there will not be a Plan B or Plan C.
The players we bring in is Plan A.
On Watford
On what Salah will add
First of all, his speed and technical ability, finishing.
He has shown that from the first day.
It makes it easier for him because you don’t have to tell him what I want in an attacking way.
There were a few things on how we defend and how I want him to be involved.
But offensively, there is nothing to tell him.
Speed is the most important thing in football
On Coutinho statement from owners
When FSG say something like this it’s 100% clear. You can read it.
Between October 2015 and now there has not been one moment that people should have doubt.
I have no problem with the FSG and have never had problems with my bosses.
It is about a relationship.
I am here for short-term - even if I see out my long-term contract, life goes on and the club is bigger than all of us.
They are serious people and care about what we are doing and want to give us the best opportunities they can.
Are Liverpool ready?
Coutinho is out
Philippe Coutinho will not be available against Watford.
He is also a doubt to face Hoffenheim next week.
No, he’s not available.
He has back problems and has not been in training since last Friday.
The bigger issue for me is that he’s not available to play this weekend.
Here we go!
Jurgen has arrived.
Stay tuned for updates from the Liverpool boss.
Fixture changes
Here are the Liverpool fixtures that have changed for the next couple of months.
Some tasty looking encounters in there for Reds fans.
- October 1 - Newcastle vs Liverpool - 4:30pm (Sky Sports)
- October 14 - Liverpool vs Manchester United - 12:30pm (Sky Sports)
- October 22 - Tottenham vs Liverpool - 4pm (Sky Sports)
- November 4 - West Ham vs Liverpool - 5:30pm (BT Sport)
- November 25 - Liverpool vs Chelsea - 5:30pm (BT Sport)
Klopp incoming
We are expecting to hear from the Liverpool boss at 11.
After the statement from the Liverpool board, that should be the end of the Coutinho saga.
We should have updates on potential incomings plus latest injury news.
Stay tuned.
New deal for Kent
Liverpool have signed exciting young prospect Ryan Kent on a new long term contract.
The 20 year old flying winger made a major impression in pre-season, with a dazzling cameo against Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup, which wowed fans and club coaches alike.
And now boss Jurgen Klopp will reward his emergence with a new five year deal that ties him to Anfield for the foreseeable future.
The England U20 forward has attracted more than a dozen offers from clubs hoping to take him on loan this summer, but Klopp is reluctant to let him leave, with injuries to Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho affecting his start of season plans.
Oldham born Kent is regarded as a huge prospect by Liverpool, and is part of a new generation of young players the German manager will introduce into his first team squad this season, with the promise of opportunities to grab a regular place.
Liverpool owners issue Coutinho statement
Philippe Coutinho will NOT be leaving Liverpool this summer under any circumstances.
That was the emphatic message this morning for the club’s American owners, who slammed the door shut on Barcelona’s attempts to sign the Brazilian .
Owners FSG have become increasingly frustrated and annoyed by the Catalan club’s attempts to prise their star asset away from Anfield.
And today they have moved once and for all the insist there is NO chance of Coutinho leaving
The statement read: “We wish to offer clarity as regards our position on a possible transfer of Philippe Coutinho.
“The club’s definitive stance is that no offers for Philippe will be considered and he will remain a member of Liverpool Football Club when the summer window closes.”
Klopp says City are favourites
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has declared that Manchester City are favourites for the Premier League title.
City finished third last season, 15 points behind champions Chelsea in Pep Guardiola’s first season in England, but Klopp fancies them to improve on that showing this time out.
“The favourites must be Manchester City actually. They played some incredible football last year and had just a couple of problems,” the German told DAZN.
A busy summer in the transfer market for the Citizens has seen Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mnedy, Bernardo Silva, Danilo and Ederson all head to the Etihad, but Klopp is big on Gabriel Jesus, who is preparing for his first full season at the club.
“They are definitely the favourites. Manchester City is in attack mode, that is obvious.
“They already had an incredible team last season and then Jesus joined them and I thought, ‘Oh my goodness’.
“I mean he is very young and really strong. Incredible player – and now they got some defenders as well. They will be interesting to watch.”
Coutinho and Sturridge to miss out
Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge both look set to miss Liverpool’s Premier League opener at Watford on Saturday.
Neither player trained at Melwood yesterday and they are unlikely to feature at Vicarage Road.
The star Brazilian has been undergoing treatment on a back problem over the past week as speculation about his future rumbles on.
Coutinho was pictured driving in and out of the Reds’ training base but didn’t join his fellow players for training and instead had a check-up with medical staff.
Liverpool rejected an improved offer of £90.4million from Barcelona on Wednesday and remain adamant he’s not for sale at any price.
Sturridge continues to work with the club’s rehab staff having limped out of last week’s Audi Cup win over Bayern Munich due to discomfort in his thigh.
Greetings
Good morning one and all.
Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Jurgen Klopp’s pre-match press conference.
The Reds take on Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday as they get their Premier League campaign underway.
But Klopp must do without star man Philippe Coutinho, who remains sidelined with a back problem.
The Brazilian’s future remains the source of much speculation after Barcelona had a second bid rejected for his services this week.
Liverpool insist he isn’t for sale and Klopp will undoubtedly be asked about Coutinho this morning.
We will also have team news from the Reds boss ahead of the trip to Vicarage Road.
Stay tuned for updates from Klopp’s pre-match press conference at Melwood.
Let’s do this.