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Jurgen Klopp not to blame for Liverpool injures, says Adam Lallana

Dejan Lovren is treated before his substitution at the Britannia Stadium
Image: Liverpool's Dejan Lovren is treated before his substitution at Stoke

Adam Lallana insists Jurgen Klopp's training regime is not to blame for a spate of hamstring problems which have left Liverpool with an injury crisis.

Philippe Coutinho and defender Dejan Lovren succumbed to hamstring injuries in the 1-0 Capital One Cup semi-final win at Stoke, meaning Klopp now has 11 first-team players unavailable.

Of that list, six have, or are recovering from, hamstring injuries and the German admits it is likely to force him into the transfer market as he currently only has one fit centre-back in Kolo Toure, who also had a late bout of cramp at the Britannia Stadium.

Philippe Coutinho leaves the pitch due to injury
Image: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho leaves the pitch due to injury

The mounting injuries have led some to speculate as to whether Klopp's 'gegenpressing' style is too much for the players, with Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness suggesting it was time for the manager to consider modifying training, but Lallana disagrees.

"We have had a change of manager this season. When that happens, lads look to impress more and give more," said the England international. "But I don't think these injuries have got anything to do with any changes to our training.

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Graeme Souness believes Jurgen Klopp has to take some responsibility for Liverpool's growing injury list

"We've had so many games recently that we've mainly been doing recovery sessions between games, so it's not as if the training has been really intensive. You can't blame that. Sometimes you are just unlucky with injuries and we've had a lot of bad luck recently.

"I know from my time at Liverpool that we've got a world-class medical team here. We certainly can't point the finger at anyone. It's a big blow losing Philippe and Dejan, and we just hope they aren't going to be out for long."

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Adam Lallana of Liverpool holds off Geoff Cameron of Stoke City
Image: Adam Lallana says Liverpool's injury crisis is not down to Jurgen Klopp's training

Lallana claims Liverpool's packed schedule - Friday's FA Cup trip to Exeter will be their fifth match in 14 days - is more likely to have a contributing factor.

"It's just a physical game," Lallana added. "Look at the amount of games we've had over the Christmas period. It's been a tough run and with the demands on players nowadays there's bound to be injuries.

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Liverpool's Capital One Cup first-leg semi-final victory came at a cost

"If you look at teams around the league, I bet you'll find the number of injuries has definitely increased. Not every club is in the semi-finals of the League Cup, playing in the Europa League and about to get going in the FA Cup on Friday night.

"But we'll all stick together. I'm sure the lads who are out will be working extra hard to get back fit."

List of Liverpool injuries as at January 2016 following the Capital One Cup semi-final with Stoke
Image: List of Liverpool injuries as of January 2016 following the Capital One Cup semi-final with Stoke

Klopp's team are doing more recovery sessions than training and his biggest concern is in central defence where he is hoping Toure will be fit enough to face Exeter, but Mamadou Sakho, who missed the Stoke tie with a minor knee problem, appears unlikely to return.

"The problem is if all the players in this moment had no injuries in pre-season they are still in the race and can cope with this intensity, but they have had little things and had no chance to recover," he said.

Jordon Ibe scores the opening goal
Image: Liverpool's Jordon Ibe scores the opening goal against Stoke

"We have no break, no chance to recover, but we couldn't wave the white flag. We can't say we have games against Arsenal and Manchester so we can have another team against Stoke. We have to get on with it and see.

"I don't know if any have a chance of being fit. Sakho? I don't think so. Kolo said it's only a cramp, but don't know for him either. We now have three injured centre-backs and the only fit one got cramp at the end of the second half so that was not the funniest thing in the world."

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