‘It was a precaution’: Jurgen Klopp insists he ‘100 per cent’ expects Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson to play against Liverpool despite midweek injury scare
- Jurgen Klopp is adamant Ederson will play for Manchester City at Liverpool
- Klopp says Ederson’s distribution is too valuable to City for him to be left out
- The 26-year-old was substituted at half-time in City’s draw with Atalanta
- City defender Kyle Walker ended up in goal after Claudio Bravo was sent off
Jurgen Klopp says he fully expects Ederson to play in Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday.
The goalkeeper was replaced at half-time during City’s Champions League draw with Atalanta on Wednesday evening due to a muscle injury.
His deputy Claudio Bravo was later sent off at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, with defender Kyle Walker donning the gloves for the final eight minutes of the match.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is adamant Ederson will be fit to play at Anfield
The Brazilian ‘keeper came off at half-time during Manchester City’s encounter with Atalanta
City boss Pep Guardiola was tight-lipped in his post-match press conference, suggesting that he did not know the extent of the Brazilian’s injury, nor whether he would be fit to return at the weekend.
But Klopp believes Ederson is too important to Guardiola to be left out of his squad when they travel to Anfield.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Klopp said: ‘If he wouldn’t play then it would change, because Ederson is an important part of their game, 100 per cent.
‘Bravo can do similar things, but exactly the same? Nobody can do. That’s how it is.
Ederson’s replacement Claudio Bravo was dismissed in Atalanta for a challenge on Josip Ilicic
‘But I expect him 100 per cent to play. One hundred per cent.
‘He’s an “all the time” player. He did last year something similar, where he was out for a game and then I think a couple of days later he was back on the pitch.
‘Last night they did exactly what everybody thought. It was a precaution. I watched the game and I didn’t see any problem for Ederson.
‘Going in the dressing room, I know how it is, the medical team ask ‘any issues?’ and your goalkeeper can say ‘it’s a bit tight’ and you say ‘okay, no risk, come off.’
‘These kind of things happen constantly and you have to react, but I don’t see him not playing on Sunday.’
Premier League table-toppers Liverpool could extend their lead over City to nine points with victory on Merseyside.
England defender Kyle Walker became Manchester City’s third goalkeeper of the evening