Terrible timing for the Reds: Andy Robertson is out for the year

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Liverpool's first-choice left-sided defender Andy Robertson will require surgery due to a shoulder injury sustained while on international duty with Scotland. It's a big blow for the Reds, especially with the Merseyside Derby with bitter rivals Everton coming up this weekend.

Robertson injured his right shoulder during Scotland's match against Spain and has been sent back to Merseyside for assessment.

"There is a little bit there. I think the decision is to go towards surgery. There is a little chance we could try without, but talking to pretty much all experts, it looks like surgery will be the best thing, especially in the long term, and that means he is out for a while. I don't know exactly how long he will be absent for but it is shoulder surgery so not exactly an easy one. In my experience, you can train pretty quickly again but not football-specific so because you have to be careful of challenges and all these kind of things so he will be out for a while."

With Robertson out of the picture, Kostas Tsimikas will certainly get a prolonged run in the team.

"Kostas is very important, that is clear. It always was like this. Thank God it is not only Kostas we have for that because for the amount of games we have we would already be a bit short.!

Although the Greek international is the most obvious choice to step in at left-back, others will have to deputise as well.

"But we have Joe Gomez who can play the position, Luke Chambers and other young boys who show up in training quite frequently so we have them now in the international break training weeks. You see the young kids showing up and it is good. There is a lot of talent in there so you need options, and that is clear. Kostas is definitely the most experienced in the position, but he cannot play all the games from now on so we need other options as well and we have to make sure we make all of them."

Saturday's game marks the first of seven for the Reds in 23 days as Klopp's side hosts Nottingham Forest and Brentford while also travelling to Luton Town. Liverpool will meet Toulouse home and away in the Europa League and will visit Bournemouth for the fourth round of the Carabao Cup in that period.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 9

Saturday

14.30: (1.37) Liverpool (5.60) Everton (8.50)

17.00: (2.50) Bournemouth (3.45) Wolverhampton (2.95)

17.00: (1.90) Brentford (3.50) Burnley (4.20)

17.00: (1.45) Man.City (4.60) Brighton (6.75)

17.00: (1.50) Newcastle (4.30) Crystal Palace (7.75)

17.00: (1.70) Nott.Forest (3.60) Luton (5.40)

19.30: (3.10) Chelsea (3.50) Arsenal (2.40)

22.00: (7.50) Sheffield Utd (4.60) Man.Utd. (1.42)

Sunday

18.30: (1.95) Aston Villa (3.70) West Ham (4.10)

Monday

22.00: (1.55) Tottenham (4.20) Fulham (5.90)

***odds are subject to change***