Final door ajar for injured Liverpool pair

Matthew Briggs

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes Jordan Henderson and Divock Origi could play in the Europa League final – but only if they’re both fit for next Sunday’s final Premier League clash at West Brom.

The Reds reached the Basel final after recording a 3-1 aggregate win over Villarreal – and Klopp, speaking at his press conference on Friday morning, knows what it means to both players to reach the final.

Henderson has been sidelined since the start of April with a knee problem he sustained against Dortmund, while Origi injured his ankle in the 4-0 win over Everton last month.

“He [Henderson] was really celebrating,” Klopp said. “I saw in is eyes that he believes he has a chance (for the final). Same for Divock Origi.

“If they are available for the Sunday before [versus West Brom] then there’s a chance.

“Otherwise we can’t take the risk.”

Klopp, speaking about Liverpool’s paltry 10,000 ticket allocation for the May 18 final in Switzerland, believes 30million people could want to go to the game.

“What I learned in life is not to think about things we can’t change.

“If you say who wants to go there? 30million people will want to go to the final,” said Klopp.

“We’re in the final, what shall I say it is incredible. Amazing. We go to Basel. We take 50, 60, 70 thousand Liverpudlians with us, not in the stadium but in the city. Maybe 100 thousand,” he said with a smile.

“It’s a nice city, by the way. Close to my home. Create an atmosphere…go there and enjoy it, and we will go there and try and give our best in the middle of May for this wonderful club and these wonderful fans.”

Klopp also revealed Danny Ings is back in training, but remains uncertain if he’ll feature this season.

“Danny wants to play,” he said. “He has trained at highest level.

“But with all these fit players it makes sense to wait.”