Lallana injury not as bad as first feared

Jurgen Klopp remains hopeful Adam Lallana will play again this season despite the midfielder being out for a "number of weeks" with a muscular injury.

The England international was hurt just five minutes after coming on as a substitute in Liverpool's 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Lallana appeared to tweak a muscle while challenging Palace captain Luka Milivojevic and was replaced by defender Dejan Lovren for the remainder of the Premier League fixture.

The latest setback continues an injury-hit campaign for the 29-year-old, who has made just one league start after struggling with a persistent thigh problem.

"Thank God, that's not as bad as we thought – a number of weeks," the German told the club's official website.

"There is a little hope, of course, that we can maybe use him again this season but we have to wait; it is absolutely not the time to bring any rush into the situation.

"It is not the Adam Lallana season so far. It makes the season so far even more special when you think that we have played the season without him. He will be back for pre-season, of course."

The update over Lallana's injury will also interest England manager Gareth Southgate ahead of the World Cup in Russia.

3 April 2018