Jurgen Klopp hopeful Can injury not too serious

An injury to Emre Can threatened to sour Liverpool’s evening following a comprehensive EFL Cup win at Burton but Reds boss Jurgen Klopp allayed fears over the midfielder.

Can came off midway through the second half of Tuesday night’s 5-0 victory after going to ground somewhat innocuously in some discomfort.

The Germany international eventually regained his feet and was helped from the pitch, rather than having to be carried off on a stretcher, but immediately after the game it was too early to know the exact problem or its extent.

Asked about Can, Klopp said: “I have no idea. He had a little pain in his ankle without any touch – I couldn’t see any contact.

“It was a long leg, then a little bit floppy and then he had pain.

“But it is not that serious. It’s not that big [of a] pain any more, but it’s the ankle he had problems with at the end of last season, so he’s a little bit worried.

“Hopefully it’s nothing too serious.”

Can departed with Liverpool having all but won the tie, leading 3-0 following two quick first-half goals from Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino and a second-half own goal by Reds fan Tom Naylor.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge netted a late double as Klopp’s side blew away the cobwebs of Saturday’s surprise 2-0 defeat to Burnley.

Against the Clarets Liverpool were laboured in their build-up, particularly in the first half, and careless and wasteful in possession and Klopp demanded more cutting edge from his players.

He felt it was a step in the right direction at the Pirelli Stadium, saying: “There were still a few situations where we were missing a bit of sharpness but the main problem was, it was unbelievable, our build up and style of play at Burnley – one more pass but 15 times we are completely free in the box.

“So we needed to use this game and that’s what we did and it was better.”