Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Roberto Firmino will miss Liverpool's game against Nottingham Forest - and hinted his team selection will be based on "counter-pressing".
The Reds returned to winning ways on Monday as they recorded a thumping 6-1 win over Leeds at Elland Road. Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota both grabbed a brace, while Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez also found the net for Liverpool as they moved to within nine points of fourth-place Newcastle in the race for the Champions League.
Ahead of the game against Forest, Klopp spoke to the press and revealed he has one major injury concern, with Firmino nursing a muscle problem. The Brazilian will sit out of the clash at Anfield on Saturday and is also a doubt for the Reds' trip West Ham next week as they head into a critical period of the campaign.
Firmino's absence whittles Klopp's forward options from six down to five after Luis Diaz made his long-awaited return to action in the rout at Leeds. Jota, Gakpo and Salah made up the Reds' front three, with Nunez, Diaz and Firmino all coming off the bench to feature.
It remains to be seen whether Klopp sticks to that front line that started the trip to Leeds, or makes changes. When asked about his potential team, Klopp said: "The ticket into this team will definitely be counter-pressing. If you did it in the game you play, you have a good chance to start again.
"We have opportunities to change. We have five games in two weeks? Yes, there will be changes. Everybody is super important to us."
Having come off the bench to strike the Reds' sixth goal at Leeds, Klopp reaffirmed the importance of Nunez to the Liverpool side despite finding himself out of the current XI. The Uruguayan now has nine Premier League goals to his name this season since his big-money move from Benfica last summer.
Klopp said: "Darwin is a player with a different skillset to all our other players. He is a machine. He is still adapting. His English is still not great. How can a striker shine when the team is struggling? But he has had super moments.
"I understand Darwin is not always fine when he doesn't start, smiling in my face, but it's absolutely fine," he added. "When we have 5/6 players up front, I have to make decisions. The door is miles open for all the boys. He was exceptional (v Leeds). Everyone who came on was on fire."
Liverpool face a Forest side who are bang out of form right now. Steve Cooper's side have failed to win any of their last 10 matches, picking up just three points in the process. It is a run of form that has seen them move back into the relegation zone, level on points with 17th place Everton.
He said: "We've had our analysis meeting, Forest have pragmatic style, long balls, corners. Steve Cooper has the ability to play different ways but they don't have a lot of confidence so pragmatic makes sense. They have speed up front, technique in midfield. It's all there."
