Liverpool Is Increasingly In Crisis, False Positive For COVID-19 Again And Williams Injured

JAKARTA - Liverpool's injury crisis worsened after news emerged that Rhys Williams was removed from the England U-21 national team as a precaution due to a hip injury, while striker Mohamed Salah has tested positive for COVID-19 again.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has lost two of his four first choice defenders, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, due to knee injuries. Meanwhile, Fabinho who is in central defense was also absent.

First-choice full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson are also a doubt for the match against Leicester this weekend and Klopp may also have to deploy a squad without Williams.

"He has mild hip stiffness," England U21 manager Aidy Boothroyd said of the 19-year-old.

"Rhys is not actually on the bench so I think it would be best to send him back to Liverpool."

Salah tested positive for the coronavirus while carrying out state duties with Egypt on Friday and again tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday.

Williams has played for Liverpool five times this season and has played in all three of his club's Champions League group stage matches so far.

With so many key players absent from the club's defense, he could make his first Premier League appearance on Sunday, but that possibility is shattered at this point.

Van Dijk was injured in a collision with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the Merseyside derby, while Fabinho was withdrawn when Liverpool won 1-0 against Ajax. Gomez injured his knee while training with the England national team.