Jurgen Klopp offers worrying Liverpool update as Xabi Alonso praised
Liverpool remain top of the Premier League after beating Brentford 4-1 on Saturday, thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo.
The victory means Jurgen Klopp's side have now secured consecutive wins, having bounced back from a 3-1 defeat to title rivals Arsenal earlier this month. However, Arsenal were able to keep pace with the Reds as they picked up a win over Burnley, while Manchester City drew 1-1 with Chelsea.
Although Liverpool were able to welcome back the likes of Salah, Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez against Brentford, they have suffered several more injury blows which could have a major effect on the title race.
Here is the latest news from Anfield.
Liverpool's "horrible" injury luck
Both Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota were forced off injured in the first half against Brentford, while Alisson picked up an injury in training and Nunez was removed at half-time as a precaution.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai and Thiago Alcantara are also currently out injured and when asked about their injury problems after the game, Klopp told BBC Match of the Day: "Of course the injury situation is really horrible, it doesn't look great. A knock for Curtis I have not spoke to him and Diogo doesn't look good at all.
"Darwin felt a little bit so we thought we would take no risks and brought Cody [Gakpo] on. We don't know how bad the situation is, but the boys played an incredible game. We take it how it is [regarding injuries] and we will see when we get the information, but as long as we have 11 players on the pitch and we fight that is all that matters."
Diogo Jota was stretchered off against Brentford (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Salah's "amazing" return
However, Liverpool fans will have been delighted to see Salah back in Premier League action for the first time since New Year's Day.
The forward spent some time away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations where he unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury, but he was able to feature off the bench against Brentford. After coming on for Jota in the first-half, Salah set up Mac Allister's second and then scored Liverpool's third to make an outstanding return.
"He is amazing," Mac Allister told TNT Sports when asked about Salah after the game. "I am very happy for him. He has been out and a little bit frustrated about it but he came back and in just a couple of minutes, scored and assist. He is an amazing player and a great leader and an important player for us."
Mohamed Salah scored in his first Liverpool game since New Year's Day (Kieran McManus/REX/Shutterstock)Benitez hails Alonso
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has been heavily backed as a potential successor for Klopp when he steps down as Liverpool boss at the end of the season.
Klopp himself has already branded Alonso the "stand-out" manager of his generation and former Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez, who was in charge during Alonso's five seasons at Anfield as a player, has hailed his former charge. "When he took over last season, they needed to play a lot on the counter-attack," Benitez told The Athletic.
"Now they have a team which is more of a protagonist, with a lot of pace, a lot of fast attacking. He is doing very good work. Xabi has been at good teams with good coaches. He is intelligent. He has picked up different things from all his coaches."
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