Liverpool's injury crisis down to Jurgen Klopp's training methods, believes Graeme Souness

Big demand: Graeme Souness thinks Jurgen Klopp's pressing style is hard to maintain for 90 minutes
OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images
Vaishali Bhardwaj6 January 2016

Graeme Souness believes Liverpool's current injury crisis is down to the training regime Jurgen Klopp has implemented since arriving at the club, and insists the Reds must analyse their procedures to avoid any more players being sidelined.

Liverpool's 1-0 Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg win over Stoke City on Tuesday was spoilt by hamstring injuries to Philippe Coutinho and Dejan Lovren while Kolo Toure finished the match with cramp.

The injuries mean Klopp is now without 11 first-team players - with at least five of them suffering from hamstring issues - which Souness thinks could be down to the intense pressing style the German coach has introduced at the club.

"After 11 games, the guys who've been playing are match-fit," Souness said on Sky Sports.

"Some people can get there in three or four games, some need eight or nine, but after 11 games, if you've been playing regularly, you're match-fit.

"A new manager comes in and all the chat was about high press further up the field. It's hard work to do that for 90 minutes. You can do it in bursts.

"You can do it for an hour, you can do it for 70 minutes, but to do it for 90 minutes is a big demand on your legs.

"I just think they've fallen foul of that. It's not a coincidence, five hamstrings. To have them all at one time, I think they have to look at what they're doing in training."

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