Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp has said he hopes the club's young centre backs can step up in the absence of injured regulars as the Premier League champions cope with an injury crisis.

Defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are both set to miss the rest of the campaign after undergoing knee surgeries, with Nat Phillips and teenager Rhys Williams expected to provide cover and partner with Joel Matip.

Klopp said, ahead of Sunday's game against Leicester City, he found himself in a similar situation at Borussia Dortmund, when Neven Subotic and Mats Hummels were played together as teenagers, gaining the experience to form the bedrock of his defensive line in two title-winning seasons.