Jurgen Klopp has declared he 'hates' the international break when offering an injury update ahead of Liverpool's clash with Arsenal on Saturday.
The Reds headed into the latest break off the back of a league draw with Brighton and defeat to West Ham, and saw their spirits weakened further after seeing a number of players suffer injuries while away with their international sides.
Sadio Mane and Andy Robertson both limped off for Senegal and Scotland respectively, while captain Jordan Henderson returned to Liverpool early after withdrawing from the Three Lions squad.
And Klopp was left to bemoan the break when revealing both Henderson and Robertson remain doubtful to face Arsenal on Saturday.
"Hendo and Robbo didn't train with the team yet," the German told reporters. "They did their recovery stuff, their rehab stuff.
"They didn't train with the team yet, it's pretty close. It'll be a late, late, late, late decision about that.
"I hate international breaks. Absolutely. It didn't help from an injury point of view. If we had played a week later, not immediately again three days later, our players would have had, all players who had no games, would have had two days off.
"With the international days they train pretty much through all this because the coaches have their own targets and they think they have to do physical work with them as well.
"No, I don't like it. It wasn't helpful. I would have loved to have played the week after."
Fortunately for Liverpool, Sadio Mane is fit while Klopp played down any fears about Fabinho after the midfielder was absent from training on Thursday.
"Sadio is good.. Fab only came back and he did recovery," he said. "I hope he can train today, that's the plan.
"I've not heard anything different but in the end we all have to wait until tomorrow."
