Wijnaldum Absent For Liverpool’s Club World Cup Semi-Final
Liverpool will be without influential midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for their FIFA Club World Cup clash with Mexican side Monterrey at the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar on Wednesday.
Wijnaldum was substituted in the 59th minute for Andy Robertson in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Watford at Anfield last Saturday after picking up a hamstring injury.
Nonetheless, manager Jurgen Klopp included the Dutchman in his travelling party to Qatar but he will not be fit enough for the semi-final on Wednesday.
Wijnaldum is not expected to be out for too long as his injury has been described as minor.
"Gini was not as serious as we thought in the first moment, so he's here doing the first recovery and then we have stuff what is necessary," Klopp told a press conference.
"So we will see day by day but for tomorrow night he's not involved."
Wijnaldum is the second of Klopp’s first choice midfielders to be injured in recent weeks after Fabinho suffered ankle ligament damage against Napoli in the UEFA Champions League that will see him miss the rest of 2019.
Wijnaldum has made 16 appearances in the Premier League this season and has scored two goals. He also featured in all six Champions League group stage games as Liverpool advanced to the round of 16 stage where they will meet Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool last played in Club World Cup in 2005 but lost out to Brazilian side Sao Paulo in the final following a 1-0 defeat.
The winners of Wednesday’s tie will meet either Al-Hilal or Flamengo in Saturday’s final.
A youthful Liverpool side will take on Aston Villa in the quarterfinal of the Carabao Cup later on Tuesday.
