By Betsefy
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Andy Robertson will not be available for his side’s next two games with Ajax and Chelsea due to a knee injury.
The Scotland international played the full 90 minutes in last week’s Champions League defeat to Napoli, setting up Luis Diaz‘s consolation goal in that heavy 4-1 defeat.
Robertson has started another campaign as Liverpool’s first-choice left-back and has three assists to boast from eight appearances in all tournaments, although Kostas Tsimikas was given the nod for the Merseyside derby against Everton on September 3.
Despite seeing out the game at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and conducting his post-match media duties, Robertson has now been confined to the treatment room with a knee injury.
As a result, the left-back will not be available for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Ajax or the Premier League battle with Chelsea on Sunday, although that game is in doubt due to a lack of police officers ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
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“Robbo now is not 100 per cent. [He felt something] Very late, 93rd or whatever minute – actually he felt it the next day only. But yeah, he is out for at least, I would say, after the international break,” Klopp told reporters at his pre-game press conference.
The Reds boss also confirmed that Fabio Carvalho has fully recovered from the dead leg he sustained against Everton, but Curtis Jones remains out with a shin injury.
Meanwhile, Naby Keita has been sidelined with a thigh injury for the past couple of weeks, but he has nevertheless been called up to the Guinea squad for September’s round of fixtures.
However, Klopp is working under the assumption that the midfielder will stay home, adding: “No, I don’t expect him [Keita] to go on international duty.
“The expected return date is somewhere in October, that’s why we had to make the decision. With Ox [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain] it is the same and that’s why the two boys are not in the Champions League squad because of their expected return.
“It can differ a little bit, but we had to make the decision now or last week and that’s why we made the decision.”
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Liverpool welcome Ajax to Anfield in Group A having had a week to reflect on their 4-1 loss to Napoli on the opening matchday, with no domestic fixtures taking place at the weekend.
The death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 saw footballing authorities call off matches as a mark of respect, and Klopp was asked if a lack of Premier League action could disrupt his side’s rhythm.
The German quickly responded with: “Which rhythm? We had no rhythm, did you watch our game? Losing this rhythm would be really cool!”
Liverpool are due to travel to Chelsea on Sunday evening following their clash with Ajax, but with the Queen’s state funeral taking place the next day, a lack of police could threaten a postponement.
Earlier on Monday, UEFA confirmed that Arsenal’s Europa League tie with PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates would not be going ahead due to “severe limitations” on security in London.
