Liverpool injury news: Emre Can and Ragnar Klavan ruled out but Sadio Mane fit for Leicester clash

Both Emre Can and Ragnar Klavan have been ruled out ahead of the Reds' fixture against Leicester on Saturday

Liverpool are continuing to struggle with injuries as they head into Saturday’s fixture against Leicester. Although the season is only three games in, the Reds are expected to be without a total of five first-team players for the Saturday clash.

Manager Jurgen Klopp announced on Thursday that Emre Can has been ruled out of the game. Although the midfielder is expected to return to training on Friday after sustaining a small ankle injury, Can will not be ready for the encounter against the Premier League champions at Anfield.

Ragnar Klavan is expected to join team-mate Can on the sideline having aggravated the knee injury which forced him to miss the trip to Tottenham two weekends ago.

Klavan was given the all-clear to captain Estonia in his country’s opening World Cup qualifier against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday night but complained of discomfort following the match, despite playing the full 90 minutes in Zenica.

Klopp is likely to keep Klavan off the team sheet for Saturday’s fixture as the defender works to overcome his injury.

Liverpool youngster Sheyi Ojo is still in the process of recovering from a back fracture he sustained during the Reds’ pre-season tour to America.

Ojo was ruled out for a month last August after receiving his scan results and has only just made a return to training. “Ojo has not been in team training until now,” Klopp confirmed.


 Ragnar Klavan was kept out of Liverpool's fixture two weekends ago against Tottenham 
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As for Joe Gomez, the Liverpool defender shows no signs of returning from his injury anytime soon. The 19-year-old had been working his way back from the knee injury which ended his 2015/16 campaign but picked up an Achilles problem last July that has further delayed the player’s recovery.

He confirmed the injury at the time in July, posting on his Instagram account: “Setback in my return to training with an Achilles tendinopathy... Rehab is rarely a smooth path." Liverpool have given no indications of his expected return.

Meanwhile, Mamadou Sakho’s place at Liverpool continues to raise questions. The Frenchman suffered a minor ankle injury during the tour to America and was subsequently sent home to begin his recovery at the club’s training ground.

However, reports at the time suggested Klopp had dismissed the defender on account of his ill-discipline. Whether Sakho is in the process of regaining his match fitness or has been cast aside by a frustrated Klopp remains unclear.


 Sakho faces uncertain times ahead at Liverpool 
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Speaking on Thursday, the German boss remarked: “Now it’s about making Mama fit after a long time out. Then we will see what happens.

“He doesn’t have to gain my trust. He didn’t play for a long time. Then you think how can you get match time?”

It’s not all doom-and-gloom for the Reds though. Klopp confirmed a clean bill of health for Sadio Mane after reports emerged during the international break that Liverpool’s new-signing had been forced off early during Senegal’s 2-0 win over Namibia.

The German manager told reporters: “Mane, I don’t know how it works and who said it, but it was absolutely nothing. He has trained since he was [back] here completely normally.

“We have enough players available, if nothing happens today and tomorrow. We will have a good team. I hope everybody wants to play. Then we have to make a few decisions, we will make them and then we will start.”