Fabinho injury: Liverpool can cope without star midfielder, says Georginio Wijnaldum

Blow | Liverpool could be set to lose one of their key men for a crucial period of the season
Action Images via Reuters
David Lynch28 November 2019

Georginio Wijnaldum has backed Liverpool to cope should injury rob them of the services of the influential Fabinho in the coming weeks.

The Brazilian was forced off in the early stages of Wednesday evening’s Champions League draw with Napoli after Hirving Lozano accidentally fell onto his ankle.

He was later seen leaving Anfield wearing a protective boot, leading to suggestions that the Reds could be set to lose one of their key men for a crucial period of the season.

But Wijnaldum, who came on as a substitute to play the No.6 role in place of his injured colleague, believes Jurgen Klopp’s team have shown they can deal with such setbacks before.

He said: "It is a blow, a big blow for the whole team, of course also for him as a player but there are situations you have to deal with.

“I think during the years we have had a few blows, injuries, and we just have to show we can deal with the situation.

"We just have to show that it doesn’t affect us. During the years we had some difficult injuries and difficult positions - [like] last season when we didn’t have a right defender - we just have to deal with it so we will see."

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Liverpool’s failure to beat Napoli means they will likely need to take at least a point from their final group game - a visit to RB Salzburg next month.

The Austrians gave the Reds a scare when they fought back from three goals down before ultimately losing 4-3 when the sides met at Anfield, but Wijnaldum remains confident about the return fixture.

He added: “[It is] frustrating, of course you want to finish it early but that is the situation, it comes to the last game so there is nothing we can change about it any more so what we have to do is to deal with the situation and try and get a good result.

“It is always difficult. Champions League games will always be difficult. It also depends how you go into the game.

“The game against Salzburg at home, we started really well and we make it difficult for ourselves after we score the goals.

“Of course they get the credit but we didn’t do the things we did in the beginning so we will see.

“[It is] definitely going to be a tough game but it will be tough for both teams.”

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