Lallana sustained a thigh injury during England’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania last weekend, but the Liverpool midfielder still managed to play the full 90 minutes © AFP/File / Adrian DENNIS
LONDON, United Kingdom, Mar 31 – Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he is frustrated Adam Lallana will miss Saturday’s crucial Merseyside derby against Everton after suffering a thigh injury on England duty.
Lallana sustained the problem during England’s World Cup qualifier against Lithuania last weekend, but the Liverpool midfielder still managed to play the full 90 minutes.
Klopp is annoyed Lallana was allowed to push his body to breaking point having already completed just over an hour of the friendly meeting with Germany four days previously.
Those fixtures came just days after Lallana played for Liverpool in an intense Premier League clash at Manchester City.
“I was not happy that he played on Wednesday but it is not my decision and I respect 100 per cent the decisions of other managers because they have to respect my decisions, too,” Klopp said on Friday.
“Lallana made the line-up against Germany and he loves football that much he obviously didn’t say, ‘I should maybe wait another day’.
“I really think we could handle these situations better if we work together.
“As long as we do not work together we will have these situations all the time.”
With Liverpool battling to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish, Klopp knows his team can ill-afford to be without Lallana for long.
Liverpool’s midfielder Adam Lallana warms up ahead of the English Premier League football match against Manchester City March 19, 2017 © AFP/File / Oli SCARFF
He is not the only Premier League boss unhappy with the toll taken on his squad by the international break.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho bemoaned the injuries suffered by Phil Jones and Chris Smalling while on England duty.
But Klopp insisted he hadn’t fallen out with England manager Gareth Southgate, who called the German this week to explain his decision to field Lallana in the 2-0 victory over Lithuania.
“I think it is absolutely normal to have contact with the manager of the national team,” Klopp said.
“It is not about appreciating (the call) it is about the normal situation. We both share players.
“Of course I was not happy. Someone said I was relaxed about the situation but I could not be less relaxed about this, but it is not about blaming Gareth Southgate.”
Klopp’s midfield problems have been exacerbated by the news Jordan Henderson has suffered a setback in his recovery from a foot injury, which has kept him out since February.
The England international is not expected to return to training until after next week.
“Jordan unfortunately had a little setback and he is not in team training,” Klopp added.
