Robin Koch added to Leeds United’s lengthy injury list ahead of Liverpool game

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that Robin Koch has been added to his side’s lengthy injury list ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Anfield.

Liverpool can go within three points of Premier League title rivals Manchester City - who play Everton on Saturday - with a win against a Leeds side who have lost three of their last four.

Their most recent defeat to Manchester United saw German defender Koch take a painful blow to the head from Scott McTominay before being substituted off shortly after, following reported symptoms of concussion.

And as a result, he and Leeds will have to abide by the league’s concussion protocols, meaning he will be unavailable for the game against Liverpool.

“Koch clashes and he gets a cut where blood starts coming out from.” Bielsa said.

“He continues in the game after the evaluation the doctors had with the blood flowing from his head. He continued to play because the only problem was a cut on his head. That was not the case.

“I was convinced that it was just the bleeding from the cut because that was the first conclusion after the evaluation the player had. After, when he manifested different symptoms, he was substituted.”

Long-term absentees remain unavailable

Koch will join three other key players on the sideline, with Bielsa offering no significant updates on Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford.

When asked if there is any fresh team news, Bielsa bluntly said: “No. None in particular.”

Phillips and Cooper have been tipped to return in March ever since both suffered similar hamstring injuries against Brentford in December.

Patrick Bamford returned form injury in the game, scoring a late equaliser before pulling his hamstring - his latest of a litany of injuries is a foot problem that will also keep him out of Wednesday’s clash.

Youth players Sam Greenwood and Leo Hjelde will also be unavailable.

What it means for Wednesday

When asked about Leeds’ defensive problems, Bielsa pointed towards the unavailability of all three options in defensive midfield in Phillips, Koch and Pascal Struijk - who was needed as one of only two senior centre-backs.

“I wanted to explain in the game against Manchester we did not have Phillips, Koch or Pascal. Three players who take on the role of DM to solidify them,” Bielsa said.

“Occasionally situations like this are presented. Strangely, the fourth player in that role is the best player of the team in the second half: Forshaw.”

Given left-back Junior Firpo’s return from injury in the weekend’s defeat, the versatile Stuart Dallas is likely to be drafted into the midfield alongside former Evertonian Forshaw.

Raphinha was benched at the weekend also, but the Brazilian scored after coming on at half-time and Bielsa was indifferent when asked about a potential return to the starting lineup.

He said: “The fact he didn’t start the last game doesn’t mean his role or hierarchy in the team doesn’t mutate. The team is always made up of more than 11 starters.”

Liverpool are yet to lose to Leeds United, with the reverse fixture at Elland Road ending 3-0 to the Reds and the last meeting at Anfield producing a chaotic 4-3 opening day for Klopp’s side - Mohamed Salah scoring a hatrick.