New defensive injury blow for Liverpool with Fabinho out of Leicester

Liverpool hit with ANOTHER defensive injury blow as Fabinho is ruled out of the trip to Leicester with a fresh muscle problem… and new signings face a baptism of fire up against fit-again Jamie Vardy

• Boss Jurgen Klopp is unsure when Fabinho will next be available for Liverpool
• It will likely mean a debut for Ozan Kabak or Ben Davies against Leicester
• Klopp also provided an update on the fitness of Naby Keita and Diogo Jota 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be forced into yet another reshuffle in the centre of defence with Fabinho out injured for Saturday’s clash against Leicester.

It paves the way for Klopp to hand a debut to either Ozan Kabak or Ben Davies, Liverpool’s two deadline day signings to ease their ongoing injury crisis in the centre of defence.

‘Fab will not be available by the way, he has suffered again another muscle issue,’ Klopp said in his Friday press conference. ‘So we have to find a solution and they have all had a chance to show in training who is ready.’

Fabinho will miss Liverpool’s game against Leicester with another muscle injury

Klopp said that he didn’t know when Fabinho would next be available for Liverpool

Fabinho’s absence could pave the way for Ozan Kabak to make his debut for Liverpool

Klopp said he did not know if Fabinho would be available for the Champions League clash with RB Leipzig next week, or the Merseyside derby against Everton next week on Saturday night. 

Liverpool signed Davies from Championship side Preston on the last day of the January transfer window before completing a deal for Kabak from German Bundesliga side Schalke. 

‘With the boys we have had some sessions together where we could work with the defensive setup and that is really important,’ Klopp said. ‘And Nat Phillips has done well (in defence previously) and Hendo.’

Klopp acknowledged that whoever he selects will face a difficult task in trying to keep Leicester forward Jamie Vardy quiet.

‘Jamie Vardy is obviously a proper challenge in this league,’ Klopp said. ‘The way he plays, the way he gets set up by his mates, that is a proper job to do but we can only do it as a whole team. 

‘We have to avoid the passes to him, Jamie is a world class player in a specific area of the pitch and with his speed it is really tricky.’

There was better news for Liverpool in terms of players returning to fitness further up the pitch but not in a way that will impact Klopp’s selection on Saturday.

He revealed Naby Keita is in the final stages of rehab after a hamstring issue while Diogo Jota is ‘2-3 weeks away’ from returning to action. 

Klopp’s side are looking to hit back from last weekend’s 4-1 defeat by Manchester City

Klopp added that Diogo Jota is still ‘2-3 weeks away’ from being able to return to action

Klopp’s men are looking to hit back from their 4-1 humbling by Premier League leaders Manchester City at Anfield last week. 

‘The mood is as good as it can be or as good as it should be,’ Klopp said. ‘It should not be like we have a bad or aggressive or blaming mood. We got into this situation all together and we are in it together.

‘There is nothing really to worry about, we don’t point with the finger and say “it is because of you”, we want to sort it together and we will sort it together. Nothing bad to say about the atmosphere but it is not flying, it is not like we can’t stop laughing.’

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