Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Roberto Firmino missed Thursday's EFL Cup defeat to Manchester City due to an injury he picked up in training.
The 31-year-old, who was left out of Brazil's World Cup squad, featured in both of Liverpool's mid-season friendlies against Lyon and AC Milan.
Firmino was also expected to feature in Thursday's EFL Cup tie against Man City, which the Reds went on to lose 3-2, but he did not appear in the matchday squad.
Speaking to Sky Sports News prior to the game, Klopp said: "We play mainly with the players who could do all the sessions now and had a break – apart from Bobby, who unfortunately got injured two days ago in training.
"Not a big one but big enough for this period. That's why Darwin [Nunez] is now starting. He could've started anyway but Darwin is starting now."
Klopp also discussed his decision to leave Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench, while Virgil van Dijk did not make the matchday squad.
"Apart from that, all the others could've played," the Liverpool boss added. "I'm pretty sure Hendo could've played, Fabinho could've played, Ali could've played but that's clear with the competition.
"Just Virgil only arrived yesterday. We gave him two days more because he's really our all-time player."
Firmino's injury will frustrate Klopp, who is already thin on attacking options, with Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota currently sidelined. body check tags ::
