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Huge blow for Liverpool as Adam Lallana ruled out for three months with thigh strain
Liverpool's Adam Lallana will miss the first three months of the season, delivering a major setback to the Merseyside club after they were handed a tough Champions League quailfying round.
Lallana suffered a thigh strain against Atletico Madrid in midweek and examinations on Merseyside on Friday confirmed a devastating blow to the player and Jurgen Klopp’s plans.
Having just completed pre-season conditioning work in Germany, the timing could not be worse for Lallana and Klopp, especially given Liverpool must yet confirm qualification into the Champions League group stage – they were drawn to play Hoffenheim in the qualifying round.
England coach Gareth Southgate will also be disappointed to lose a key player for the next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Lallana is the second Liverpool player to suffer a knock during the Audi Cup. Daniel Sturridge hurt his thigh in Munich and will not travel for the final pre-season game against Athletic Bilbao in Dublin on Saturday. Sturridge hopes to resume training early next week in an effort to be in contention for the trip to Watford on the opening weekend.
Philippe Coutinho will also sit out the last friendly, but only as a precaution as he nurses a sore back.
Klopp had remarked how he expected more competition for places this season, but these setbacks demonstrate why he has also sought to add quality recruits during the summer. Having failed to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig, there will be even greater urgency to add more class to ensure injuries do not undermine this year’s ambitions at home and abroard.
Liverpool must overcome Bundesliga opponents if they are to take their place back among the European elite, travelling to Germany for their first leg on Tuesday, August 15, with the return leg on Merseyside eight days later.
It was arguably the toughest pairing available for Klopp’s side. The youngest coach in the Bundesliga - 30-year-old Julian Nagalsmann - oversaw an outstanding campaign in his first season.
Liverpool will not be venturing into unknown territory, however. Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino was signed from Hoffenheim two years ago, and the Merseysiders will be encouraged by recent form against German opposition.
They overcame both Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund en route to the Europa League final in 2016, while in the past week preparations for this season were focused on Germany – Liverpool emphatically defeating both Hertha Berlin and Bayern Munich.
Hoffenheim have also lost a couple of their most impressive performers from last season.
But Klopp is under no illusions about how tough the forthcoming qualifier is, coming a few days after the Premier League opener against Watford.
“It was exactly what I expected when I had a look – if there’s a choice we always seem to take the German team,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“It was clear from the first moment when we knew who we could face that there would be no easy game. It’s Hoffenheim and that’s for sure not an easy game.
“But we should always not forget what they thought in the moment they saw the draw – it’s not the best thing they could get.
“When you are fourth in Germany you are a strong side. It’s a very interesting club. They have a lot of really good young players. They lost two of them (Sebastia)] Rudy and (Niklas) Sule to Bayern - and had a little change. They have a very young manager, just 30 years old, a very talented man.”
Liverpool at least have an advantage playing at Anfield in the second leg on August 23.
Celtic, meanwhile, face a gruelling trip to Kazakhstan having been paired with Astana.
Brendan Rodgers’ side overcame Rosenborg in midweek as the Glasgow side hope to repeat last year’s effort when they advanced into the group phase.
Everton will face Croatia’s Hadjuk Split as they seek to confirm a Europa League group place. The Merseysiders will be at home in the first leg on August 17, with the trip to Croatia seven days later.