OPINION
Liverpool were staring at a mini-crisis ahead of their visit to Southampton on Saturday after manager Jurgen Klopp revealed that back-up keeper Adrian had picked up a freak injury after the UEFA Super Cup game against Chelsea on Wednesday.
Adrian was kicked in the ankle when a Liverpool fan invaded the pitch after he had saved the decisive spot-kick from Tammy Abraham.
That left Jurgen Klopp facing the possibility of giving veteran Andy Lonergan his first start for Liverpool and, at the age of 35, his first-ever game in the Premier League.
This is a keeper who couldn’t command a first-team place in the Championship at Leeds a couple of years ago and was on-loan at Rochdale in February.
However, an official update from Adrian has given Liverpool fans fresh hope that he will be fit.
“Today I feel much better,” Adrian said on the official Liverpool website.
“It was a strange, weird situation because we were celebrating between us and one guy jumped from the crowd and started running.
“I think he slipped in front of us and also the security with him and made me a tackle from the side. It was a bit of a strange situation but I feel much better today and I hope [I’m] ready for tomorrow.
“I feel mentally ready and I also hope today with the treatment of the ankle it’s going to be much better. But I’m very optimistic to start playing tomorrow again.”
This is great news for Liverpool fans who must have been fearing the worst at the prospect of Lonergan starting for them.
With all due respect, Lonergan is a few steps down the ladder from Adrian, who is looking up to Alisson near the top.
Adrian himself will be desperate not to miss the game. He would only have been expecting to play a bit part at Liverpool this season – Alisson played 90 minutes in every single Premier League game last season. But Alisson’s injury has given the former West Ham stopper the opportunity to play a vital role in their bid to win the Premier League.
If he’s saying he’s optimistic of playing, we think he’ll be playing.