Jurgen Klopp admits Fabinho’s hamstring injury does ‘not look good’ after Brazilian hobbles off

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is facing a defensive crisis after makeshift centre back Fabinho worryingly hobbled off with a hamstring injury in the first-half against Midtjylland on Tuesday night. 

The Brazilian, who was filling in at centre back alongside Joe Gomez following Virgil van Dijk‘s season-ending ACL injury, pulled up after 27 minutes while running back towards his own goal. 

Concern amongst the Liverpool players on the pitch was palpable straight away and Fabinho limped off, replaced by 19-year-old Rhys Williams. 

Fabinho went down with an injury in the 27th minute and immediately felt his right hamstring

The Brazilian was substituted, presenting another concerning defensive issue for Jurgen Klopp

With Joel Matip also not currently match-fit, it leaves just Gomez as Klopp’s only fit senior option at centre back.  

Manager Jurgen Klopp said after the game: ‘Exactly the last thing we needed! I don’t know… I know he felt a hamstring and that’s not good .

‘[He] didn’t feel it that much, [he] said he could have played on but no sprints anymore which doesn’t help in that position obviously.

‘We will see, a scan and we’ll know more but of course – it’s not good.’

Speaking to BT Sport at half-time, former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch admitted the injury was a ‘huge blow’ to Klopp and his team. 

The Brazilian seemed incredibly downbeat after coming off in the 30th minute on Tuesday

‘Yeah this is huge, Fabinho’s been a fantastic replacement, looks like a hamstring…’ Crouch said. 

‘Really disappointing, huge blow for Liverpool – you just hope to God that it’s not long-term.’

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, who left the club in the summer for Brighton, added: ‘Typical, it happens when a big centre half is missing and then another one like that.

The 19-year-old defender Rhys Williams replaced Fabinho in the Champions League contest

‘Hopefully it’s minor and it’s another test for the group and I think the young lad [Williams] has done well coming on, off the bench.’ 

The cause for concern with Fabinho follows Van Dijk’s injury in the Merseyside Derby against Everton, after he was clattered by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. 

The Dutchman requires surgery on his knee and after Dejan Lovren was sold to Zenit St Petersburg in the summer, Klopp now finds himself short in central defence ahead of the game against West Ham on Saturday.