Liverpool boss Klopp: Losing Henderson to injury a massive blow

Jurgen Klopp said losing star captain Jordan Henderson to injury was a “massive blow” after Liverpool’s faltering Premier League title defence hit a new low on Saturday.

Henderson suffered a groin injury as champions Liverpool were upstaged by Everton 2-0 in Saturday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield.

After Richarlison put Everton ahead in the second minute, Henderson was forced off the field by the half-hour mark as Liverpool’s injury crisis mounts.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty with seven minutes remaining condemned Liverpool to their first home defeat to neighbours Everton since 1999.

Full-time at Anfield.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 20, 2021

“It’s a massive blow losing Hendo [Jordan Henderson] again, massive, but Nate [Nathan Phillips] played a super game,” Liverpool manager Klopp told reporters post-match.

“Again, we got used to it, unfortunately, that we have to change things,

“We just try to set up again for the next game and as long as we have 11 players we will do that.

“The boys are still full of desire, I see that. But to change a football game, a result, to get the result you have to be decisive in the right moments, defensively and offensively and that’s what we are lacking.”

1999 – Everton have won their first Premier League away game against Liverpool since September 1999, ending a run of 20 such matches without victory. Relief. pic.twitter.com/6TFemVHOpO

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 20, 2021

Liverpool were already without Fabinho – himself a stand-in for Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk.

Van Dijk sustained a potentially season-ending knee injury in October’s reverse fixture at Goodison Park.

Liverpool have lost four consecutive home league games for only the second time, last doing so back in December 1923 – when they were also defending top-flight champions.

Everton picked up their first win over Liverpool in 24 meetings in all competitions (D12 L11) – ending what was the Reds’ longest ever unbeaten run against a single opponent.