---
title: "Liverpool’s defender crisis looks to be easing"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/liverpools-defender-crisis-looks-easing/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ste Hoare"
section: "Articles"
published: "2016-01-11T15:14:06Z"
modified: "2016-01-21T11:55:21Z"
---

# Liverpool’s defender crisis looks to be easing

Liverpool hope to have a partnership of Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure at centre-back for the upcoming match with Arsenal, which takes place at Anfield on Wednesday night, [reports the Liverpool Echo](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-injury-news-klopp-10717206).

The Reds were forced to use a makeshift pairing of recently recalled Tiago Ilori and outcast Jose Enrique in central defence during the 2-2 draw with Exeter City on Friday evening, but at his pre-Arsenal news conference, Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Toure would be fit to face his former club and that he should be partnered by Sakho.

> Twitter: Klopp on CBs: “Situation better now. Kolo will be available. Mama wants to be available. Hopefully we can use him.” (@LivEchoLFC)

Klopp also confirmed that whilst Martin Skrtel is still a fair way from returning, Dejan Lovren could be back in the next week or so.

> Twitter: Klopp: “Skrtel still a few weeks away. Lovren is close but we have to wait.” (@LivEchoLFC)

Despite using Ilori at Exeter, Klopp also implied that if Sakho could not play against Arsenal, then it would be Lucas and not the young Portuguese defender who would fill in at the back in the huge home fixture against the league leaders.

> Twitter: Klopp: “We have to look at Kolo and Mama. Then it’s Lucas – our three centre-backs.” (@LivEchoLFC)