Klopp handed surprise suspension ahead Arsenal vs Liverpool FA Cup tie

Jurgen Klopp has been handed yet another Liverpool blow ahead of the FA Cup clash against Arsenal. Fresh injuries and players being away on international duty has taken the number of absences to double figures for the trip to Emirates Stadium with some concerns in each area of the pitch.

The main blow for the Reds comes in regard to Mohamed Salah with the 31-year-old away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations for the next couple of weeks. In midfield, Wataru Endo is also heading to an international tournament as he prepares for the Asia Cup with Japan.

With the 4-2 win over Newcastle as his last appearance for a number of weeks, a similar absence looks set to be in place for Dominik Szoboszlai after he left Monday night’s clash clutching his hamstring. “It’s an injury. Muscle, hamstring,” Klopp said on Friday morning as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

“We will have to see. Dom is very positive, not a lot of pain but no chance for Sunday. Not for then Wednesday. Then we will see. After that, hopefully, he might be back but we don’t know.” At the back, Andy Robertson remains out with a shoulder injury and he was joined by Kostas Tsimikas following the 1-1 draw against Arsenal in December.

The Greece international got tangled in a collision with Bukayo Saka which inadvertently took out Jurgen Klopp, with Tsimikas appearing to break his collarbone however he has already returned to training. Despite that, Liverpool chose to recall Owen Beck from his loan spell at Dundee to provide some cover at left-back.

Given the decision, a spot on the bench at Emirates Stadium would be the expectation, however that is not the case. As per The Athletic, Beck will actually not be eligible to play at the Emirates due to a one-match suspension that he brought with him from Scotland.

The suspension is quite a surprising one given it has been dished out after the young defender picked up two yellow cards back in July, triggering a ban that he was yet to serve as Dundee played no further part in the competition.