Jurgen Klopp has admitted that the FA Cup could be a potential problem this season as the omicron variant of the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread.
Liverpool are set to host League One side Shrewsbury Town at Anfield on January 9 but the latest report from the EFL confirming that 25% of Football League players currently have no intention to get vaccinated against coronavirus has inevitably caused concerns.
The Reds were without Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones against Newcastle United in midweek after the trio all tested positive for Covid-19, and are likely to be without their services again on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur, who have seen their last three matches called off.
While Liverpool have so far resisted having any games postponed so far, Klopp admitted earlier this week that he now expects covid cases in his squad to rise.
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And with the Reds now heading into a busy festive period, knowing they will lose Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita to the Africa Cup of Nations in January, and still scarred by the injury crisis that decimated their title defence last season, their manager has conceded that player availability could again have a negative effect on his side's campaign.
“You go there to an FA Cup away game, change in really small dressing rooms and all these kind of things,” Klopp told reporters. “It’s just not 100% thought through.
“We play at home so this is fine, at least we play outside so that is fine as well. It’s just all these different things, we have to constantly think about other things besides football.
“That’s pretty special because we have enough football already to think about. I’m not concerned that we can’t play them or whatever but we have that situation.
“We play a Football League team at home while others play away, I’m not sure how it’s sorted because if we solve the problem for Liverpool, the problem is not sorted because it is still out there so we have to sort the general problem.
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“That’s why I mentioned it’s not only stop the league or continue like usual because there are things in between that we have to sort.”
Klopp continued: “Surprise, yes, anything and everything can happen in life. That’s how it is. And yes, injuries would hurt us again so let’s hope we will not have injuries.
“But that’s not new, that was always the case. And corona is just a problem on top of that. We’ve known that already for two years as well.
“Yes, it’s a tough league and if you don’t have your players available, you will struggle. Everybody. So let’s hope we’ll have all players available.”
