Jurgen Klopp has suffered more misfortune with his striking options at Liverpool after Christian Benteke was ruled out of tonight's Capital One Cup tie against Bournemouth with a knee ligament strain.
The news came on a day of drama at Anfield, with the stadium evacuated while police searched for a man who went missing during a stadium tour. Liverpool said today’s game should be unaffected by events.
The Belgium international is the third Liverpool forward to succumb to injury in less than three weeks of Klopp's reign after sustaining the problem in the closing stages of Sunday's draw with Southampton. Benteke is certain to miss the tie against Eddie Howe's team and is a major doubt for Saturday's to Chelsea. Klopp is left with only the 20-year-old summer arrival Divock Origi to lead his attack.
Been absent
Benteke returned to the Liverpool side in last week's Europa League draw against Rubin Kazan having been absent for a month with a hamstring injury. The summer signing marked his second substitute's appearance for Klopp with a fine goal on Sunday.
Benteke will join Danny Ings and Daniel Sturridge on the treatment table. Klopp lost that pair to a cruciate ligament injury and knee problem respectively in the early days of his tenure.
Sturridge has yet to feature for Klopp having injured a knee in a training collision with Jordon Ibe before the German's bow at Tottenham Hotspur. The impact resulted in a build-up of fluid around Sturridge's knee and, though no time frame has been set on his recovery, the England international is also out of the Bournemouth game and a serious doubt for Chelsea.
The Liverpool manager will make several changes against Bournemouth due to the recent hectic schedule. He insists he has the utmost respect for the Capital One Cup and confidence that the side selected can secure the first win of his reign. “It’s the most important cup in the world because it’s the only cup we play in tomorrow,” he said.
With James Milner suspended and Jordan Henderson injured, Klopp must appoint a new captain and he admitted to not having given the issue any thought.
Roberto Firmino is in line to make his first start for Klopp, with the signing from Hoffenheim impressing as a substitute on Sunday. "I'd say a year ago for a few months he was the best player in the Bundesliga," said the manager. "When I heard Liverpool took him, I thought: 'Good choice.'" Guardian Service
