Jurgen Klopp has reiterated his stance that Caoimhin Kelleher picked up a groin injury while on international duty with Ireland in June. It's an injury which has made the 23-year-old unavailable for Liverpool's first three games of the season.
The Liverpool manager first said in late July that Kelleher suffered the injury while playing with Ireland during their four Nations League games. That he had sustained an injury came as news to Stephen Kenny.
"It caught us by surprise I must say," Kenny said earlier this month.
"I actually wasn’t aware that he was injured [while in camp in June], to be honest with you. If he had of been injured, he would have been out of training or not training."
Jurgen Klopp: 'I heard the Irish manager didn’t like it'
Ahead of Monday night's game against Manchester United, Klopp was asked about the numerous injuries within his squad, and how much they were attributable to the quick turnaround from last season.
14 June 2022; Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher gathers possession during the UEFA Nations League B group 1 match between Ukraine and Republic of Ireland at LKS Stadium in Lodz, Poland. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
"It’s a mix," said Klopp.
"Yeah, a lot of course [it has been discussed]. When you have a lot of injuries, as a manager you have to ask first yourself what went wrong, stuff like this. Then you go through it and it was really unlucky. It started with the two injuries, or three injuries, which the players brought here.
"Caoimh, I heard the Irish manager didn’t like it, or however you gave him the information. However, for us it’s like this: he got injured at Ireland and whoever was responsible for it in this moment did not pick it up.
"Then when he arrived here he was still injured without having massive problems. In a short break the boys don’t train like crazy in this three-and-a-half weeks. Two weeks off, one week a little bit, then first time goalie training out until today [Friday]."
Picture credits: Sportsfile
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