Liverpool duo Emre Can and Divock Origi doubtful for Tottenham trip

Liverpool could be without both Emre Can and Divock Origi for Saturday's (27 August) Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds visit White Hart Lane four days after securing safe passage through to the third round of the EFL Cup with a 5-0 demolition of Championship new boys Burton Albion in Staffordshire.

Midfielder Can started that emphatic victory at the Pirelli Stadium, but suffered a non-contact ankle injury with 20 minutes remaining and was quickly replaced by Kevin Stewart. Jurgen Klopp expressed hope after the match that the issue was not too serious, but claimed the Germany international was understandably concerned having ruptured ankle ligaments during last season's memorable Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Borussia Dortmund.

Such a blow was initially expected to keep the player sidelined for up to six weeks, but he made a remarkably quick recovery in half that time to help eventual runners-up Liverpool seal their place in the final with a 3-0 win over Villarreal. Supporters will be relieved to hear that this latest issue is not serious, although Klopp remains unsure if he will have Can available to face Tottenham.

"There are a few players a little bit in doubt, of course," Klopp was quoted as saying by the club's official website at a pre-match press conference held at Melwood on Thursday morning. "It's not too serious. We had a game on Tuesday and the next game is in two days, so we need to wait a little bit.

"Of course, it's Emre – there's nothing really serious in the ankle but it's 'his' ankle if you want, where he had a few problems in the past. It shouldn't be too long, for sure, but maybe too long for the Tottenham game, I don't know at this moment."

Origi's early close range-finish sparked that aforementioned thrashing of Burton, but he limped off late on after Liverpool, left to end the game with 10 men, had already used all three of their allotted substitutions. It was subsequently confirmed that the Belgian striker was suffering from cramp that could be serious enough to rule him out this weekend.

"It's the same with Divock," Klopp added. "It's nothing serious really. But if you have cramp, whatever the cramp exactly is because [there are] different levels, you need to have a look at it too. So it's not for sure that they will be available."

New goalkeeper Loris Karius remains sidelined as he continues to recovery from surgery on a broken hand sustained during a narrow pre-season friendly loss to Chelsea in Pasadena, while Lucas Leiva, Joe Gomez and Sheyi Ojo are also still out. Mamadou Sakho is fit again after an Achilles problem but Klopp is reportedly eager for him to leave on loan and play regular first-team football elsewhere. Stoke City have been credited with a strong interest in the centre-back, who was cleared of doping charges by Uefa in May before being sent home from Liverpool's tour of the US.