Klopp explains the exclusion of two first-team Liverpool stars against Fulham

Jurgen Klopp reveals why Roberto Firmino and Ozan Kabak missed Liverpool game against Fulham

Speaking before his side’s game against Fulham (h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp clarified that Roberto Firmino and Ozan Kabak were dropped from the side because of injury troubles.

Liverpool took on a struggling Fulham with 7 changes made to the team that lost 1-0 to Chelsea. Out of those 7 absentees, Firmino and Kabak were out of action due to fitness problems.

And Klopp delivered the bad news to the press in what is a blow to Liverpool’s already cursed season.

“Two changes we had to make because of injuries – Bobby [Firmino] and Ozan [Kabak],” Klopp said to Sky Sports. “The others we thought it made sense.”

The other players making way for the encounter against the Cottagers were Curtis Jones, Thiago Alcantara, Sadio Mane, Fabinho, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Injury headache

The latter three all came on as substitutes in the match so it doesn’t look like they did not start due to an injury. The game turned out to be a disaster.

Liverpool were lacklustre and had no ideas going forward especially after Scott Parker’s side took the lead just one minute before the half-time whistle.

Instead of Firmino, Diogo Jota made his first start since his injury against Midtjylland in December. As for the defensive pairing, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams started for the Reds.

It was going forward where Liverpool looked clueless without any cutting edge. Firmino is on a barren run himself. The Brazilian has not scored in his last 7 league games.

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But his influence on the side cannot be undermined and fans would know that the Reds are a stronger team with him. And as for Kabak, Liverpool are desperately short of centre-backs and fans would be praying the Turk is fit soon.