'Was fearing worst', 'Brilliant news' - Reds fans react to Firmino injury update

Liverpool host Watford on Wednesday night, with the two sides having had polarised weekends in the Premier League – the Reds were held to a disappointing draw against Manchester United while the Hornets demolished Cardiff.

Fears over Roberto Firmino’s availability for the midweek clash after the Brazilian was replaced in the first half last time out due to injury will surely have been rife but Jurgen Klopp provided a much-needed update on Tuesday, saying:

“He [Firmino] looks good, we were obviously lucky. It is not as serious as we thought in the first moment – if Bobby goes down and leaves the pitch it is always a bad sign because he’s a pretty hard boy.

“We play tomorrow and it will be very close for that, but there’s a big chance for the derby [on Sunday].

“Because it’s Bobby, I would say ‘yes [there is a chance for Watford]’, but I don’t know if I would use that chance because we played Sunday and then Wednesday immediately.

“Writing Bobby off is a big mistake because he recovers pretty quick.”

As Klopp says, the former Hoffenheim man can usually be relied upon and rarely lets a knock keep him out for too long, however his importance to the team may mean a consequent early return to the starting XI – that could be detrimental to Liverpool if the number nine hasn’t fully recovered by Wednesday night.

The German boss at least seems to understand the risks attached to bringing him back into the fold as early as the Watford clash, but it has to be said that the Reds just don’t tick the same way when the 27-year-old isn’t involved.

Here’s what the Anfield faithful had to say on Twitter, with many surely surprised Firmino is even a possible starter having limped off with crutches on Sunday…