Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Antony is expected to miss Ajax’s clash with the Reds.
The two sides meet at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday evening, in the opening Champions League clash of the season.
Liverpool have injury problems going into the game, with Virgil van Dijk a long-term casualty, but Alisson, Joel Matip, Thiago and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also absent.
Ajax have their own injury problems to contend with, however, with striker Antony ruled out of Wednesday’s match, as reported by Reuters.
The fitness issue isn’t specified, but it is believed that the 20-year-old will play no part in proceedings, with Erik ten Hag confirming as much in his pre-match press conference:
It should not affect us because we had already anticipated there would be games where we would not be able to use him, or where we would have to change the team around, and we have ensured that when one player falls away there is another to take his place.
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Antony has made an impressive start to life at Ajax since joining from Sao Paulo earlier in the year, scoring three goals in five Eredivisie starts this season.
A potentially makeshift Liverpool back-line will be relieved to hear of his absence, as they look to fill the void left by Van Dijk.
It looks as though Fabinho will start alongside Joe Gomez at centre-back – in truth, it is Jurgen Klopp’s only real option with Matip out, too.
It will be a big test of the defence’s credentials, as they try and silence the void who believe Van Dijk was the one thing holding it together.
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