Liverpool injury news: Jurgen Klopp hoping Divock Origi's hamstring injury is not serious

Liverpool suffered a blow in their 1-0 win over Leicester City on Boxing Day as striker Divock Origi picked up an injury before the interval. Jurgen Klopp is hoping the injury is not "too serious" as he prepares his side for a busy schedule in January.

The Belgium international was replaced by his compatriot Christian Benteke in the first half as a hamstring injury forced Origi to leave the pitch. The former Aston Villa man, who replaced his countryman, scored the only goal of the match in the 63<sup>rd minute, which ended the Merseyside club's four match winless streak.

"I hope it's not too serious, we will see. They spoke about a little cramp," Klopp told Liverpool's official website.

"You have been here longer than me; I didn't know the word before I came to England, but 'hamstring' is the worst word of the year for me. It's always hamstring, hamstring, hamstring. That's the intensity of the game and the fixtures," he stressed.

"We will see. I hope it's not too serious. We have the next game in three days and six days the next, nine days the next – I hope he can play in one of these games."

Klopp started Origi ahead of the experienced striker at Anfield against the Premier League leaders. The former Borussia Dortmund boss admitted that Liverpool needed pace when they faced Leicester and Origi was the right choice to lead their attack ahead.

"He did really well in the last week in training but for today, we decided on this starting line-up because of the things you saw from Divock in the first half an hour," the Liverpool manager explained.

"We needed his speed today. Christian is a fast player, but Divock is a little bit more a player for these runs, these ways and what we needed behind the last line of the opponent. He did really well for us, so that was the decision.

"Christian came in and it was not easy in the first 10 minutes, but in the second half it was much better – he fought really intensively and worked hard for the team. He made his goal," Klopp explained.

Liverpool travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland in the next league tie. In January, they will play seven matches in all competitions and that includes the two legs of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Stoke City.