Hull City boss Steve Bruce has admitted that he has many injury concerns ahead of the visit to Anfield with Michael Dawson, Steve Harper and Nikica Jelavic definitely ruled out.
The Tigers have enjoyed a bright start to their season, with 10 points from a possible 24 leaving them 11th in the Premier League table.
Last weekend, they went close to causing a major surprise against Arsenal only to be hauled back by a late Danny Welbeck effort in the 90th minute.
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Bruce is currently going through the process of changing Hull and his summer signings of Mohamed Diame, Abel Hernandez, Michael Dawson and Hatem Bern Arfa have proven that.
Hernandez, 24, has been a revelation for Hull since signing from Palermo and the £9million buy will be hoping to continue his scoring form against Liverpool at the weekend.
But despite the Uruguayan striker’s good form, Bruce has injury concerns and admitted that he will be missing at least three players on the weekend.
He revealed his side’s sizeable injury list at this morning’s press conference: “Steve Harper looks as though he’s going to be out for 2-3 weeks, whilst Michael Dawson will be missing for 4-6 weeks.
“There’s also Nikica Jelavic, who had an operation in Croatia on Wednesday, and will also be missing for 4-6 weeks. Tom Huddlestone and Andy Robertson are also both injury concerns going into Saturday’s game.”
It is unfortunate for the Tigers with Bruce’s side only having suffered one defeat in their last five games. A win against Crystal Palace followed up with a draw against Arsenal had given his side confidence but these injuries could now benefit Liverpool with Brendan Rodgers’ side desperate for a good win.
“It’s typical. We’ve been riding along nicely and all of a sudden we’ve got four or five sidelined with injuries,” he added.
“It’s always a blow to lose players to injury. It’s the one thing that you always need a bit of luck with. However, it’s inevitable that you’re going to get injuries at some stage during the course of the season.”
“We simply have to cope with it and hope the squad’s big enough and strong enough.”
Liverpool are likely to field an attacking line-up and for the first time since Daniel Sturridge got injured, Rodgers could go with two strikers against Bruce’s side.
The Reds are currently in fifth position but lapses at the back have led to some poor goals being conceded and they will be hoping to put things straight at Anfield on Saturday.
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