Liverpool goalkeeperAdrian has said that he is hopeful about playing against Southampton on Saturday despite a fan standing on his ankle after Wednesday’s Uefa Super Cup win over Chelsea.
The former West Ham keeper, who joined Liverpool as a free agent earlier this month, was called upon to play in the Super Cup after first-choice shot-stopper Alisson suffered a knee injury in his side’s Premier League opener against Norwich last weekend.
With the Brazilian expected to miss two months of action, Adrian stepped in and saved Tammy Abraham’s penalty to give Liverpool a shootout victory on Wednesday in Istanbul. As the Spaniard celebrated with his team-mates and manager, a pitch-invading fan stepped on Adrian’s ankle, causing swelling.
On Friday morning, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp expressed doubts about the 32-year-old keeper’s chances of featuring at Saint Mary’s this weekend, but Adrian later told his club’s website that he believes he will be fit enough to play.
“It was a strange, weird situation, because we were celebrating between us and one guy jumped from the crowd and started running,“ he said.
“I think he slipped in front of us and also the security with him, and made a tackle from the side.
“It was a bit of a strange situation,” Adrian said, “but I feel much better today and I hope I’m ready for [Saturday].
“I think I have many chances. I feel mentally ready and I also hope today - with the treatment of the ankle - it’s going to be much better.
The keeper continued: “I’m very optimistic to start playing [on Saturday] again.“
Should Adrian fail to recover in time, Klopp will have to start either 35-year-old Andy Lonergan or Caoimhin Kelleher, 20, although the latter has injury problems of his own as he continues to recover from a broken wrist.
Klopp criticised the fan who caused Adrian’s injury, saying: “I don’t understand why in the world of social media when we are all together, a supporter jumped over something and kicked his ankle.”
