GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM WILL travel with Liverpool to the Club World Cup despite appearing to injure his hamstring in their Premier League win over Watford.
The midfielder’s participation in Qatar became uncertain after he limped off in the 59th minute of the 2-0 victory at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool confirmed Wijnaldum had suffered a muscle problem but the 29-year-old will still fly out on Sunday as part of a 20-man selection.
Jurgen Klopp will be without defender Dejan Lovren, who has been left behind as he recovers from a muscle issue sustained in the Champions League game against Salzburg.
Young midfielder Harvey Elliott and striker Rhian Brewster have also been trimmed from the initial 23-man squad announced earlier this month.
Liverpool begin the tournament with a semi-final against Mexican side Monterrey in Doha on Wednesday.
Captain and midfielder Jordan Henderson said the European champions had every intention of returning with the silverware.
“Well, we want to go there and win,” Henderson told his club’s website.
“Big games coming up, so we’ve got to recover well. There’s a big game Wednesday and hopefully we can do a job to get into the final on the weekend.”
The Reds will play at least two matches in Qatar as they will take part in either the final or the third-fourth place play-off next Saturday.
Thereafter, they travel to second-placed Leicester on St Stephen’s Day as they attempt to further cement their lead atop the Premier League, before finishing off their 2019 schedule with a home encounter against Wolves.
On 2 January, they tackle Sheffield United before an FA Cup derby with Everton on 5 January to conclude a hectic festive period.
The Reds will also have a team playing in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday against Aston Villa, but with the first-team squad in Doha, they will send a fringe group for that fixture.
Liverpool’s Club World Cup squad:
Alisson, Andy Lonergan, Adrian
Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams
Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Naby Keita, Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri
Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Divock Origi
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Anyone else think the squad should go over there, play fringe players and treat it as a training exercise, get a few days in the sun for first team regulars and come back to the league a little fresher with a top up tan,,it’s happened before you know….
@Devilsavocado: 100% agree. Bring back kenny dalglish and graeme souness for a round around, nonsense cup.
@Devilsavocado: as a utd fan i was delighted wen they won it. Only 2 games. Won’t do any harm
@Devilsavocado: absolutely agree
@my name: Liverpool are absolutely flying it unfortunately,these two games are where they could pick up stupid injuries but knowing Klopp they’ll win it and win the league by about 20 points
@John Connolly: you can pick up stupid injuries at home too John. There’s no point in looking at games like that. Injuries happen in training, in games it’s part of the game. As Pool fans are often reminded there’s nothing won yet and it on to the next one
Ps: nice to see you’re thawing out a bit though. Happy Christmas
A lot of these players become more important the less available they are
No doubt will milk it if they win it and laugh it off if they don’t!
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/elusive-trophy-how-liverpools-greatest-team-failed-rule-world-84
@Herby Shearer: yeah but you have to be in it to win Herb!! Champions of Europe and top of the league
@Herby Shearer: which would be the right way to treat it I’d have thought?