LONDON (AP) — Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho downplayed the severity of Liverpool’s list of absentees ahead of the teams’ top-of-the-table match in the Premier League, saying Tuesday the champion’s only “big injury” is Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool will be without defenders Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas and midfielders James Milner, Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota and Xherdan Shaqiri for the game at Anfield on Wednesday. Midfielder Naby Keita and Joel Matip, Liverpool’s other senior center back, are doubtful.
However, Mourinho said Liverpool’s first-choice lineup has not been seriously affected, suggesting Van Dijk is the team’s only major absentee.