(Reuters) - Liverpool's central defensive injury problems should be cleared up soon, manager Juergen Klopp said as the Premier League leaders prepare for Saturday's test at Brighton & Hove Albion. Croatian centre back Dejan Lovren picked up a muscle injury early in Monday's FA Cup third round defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers to add to the absence of two other central defenders Joel Matip and Joe Gomez. Klopp said Matip was back in training and suggested that Lovren could be back after the Jan. 19 game against Crystal Palace. "They are not out for long. It's not cool in this moment but in two weeks it will probably be okay," he said. "We are fine. A season is always like this. Who deals the best with their problems has the most success." "Joel trained yesterday for the first time with the team which is really good but we have to see and decide day-by-day," he added. The German indicated that Brazilian holding midfielder Fabinho could again fill-in alongside Virgil van Dijk and … [Read more...] about Klopp confident Liverpool’s defensive injuries just short term
Defense
Sheffield Wednesday target defensive recruits in January transfer window
0 Have your say Sheffield Wednesday are seeking to bolster their defensive ranks in the January transfer window, The Star understands. It is believed the Owls, who appointed Steve Bruce as their new manager last week, are keen on strengthening their full-back options. Everton's Mason Holgate is thought to have been on Wednesday's radar before he joined their Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion last week.It is no big surprise the Owls are looking to bring in defensive reinforcements. The Owls have the third leakiest back line in the Championship, letting in an alarming 42 goals from 26 matches this term.But Wednesday have tightened things up at the back in recent weeks. The Owls have selected a settled defence, with full-backs Liam Palmer and Morgan Fox and centre-backs Michael Hector and captain Tom Lees having started the last five matches in a four-man back line. Wednesday have conceded just two goals in a five-match unbeaten run.Why Steve Agnew is … [Read more...] about Sheffield Wednesday target defensive recruits in January transfer window
Chargers mourn death of defensive tackle Brandon Mebane’s infant daughter
Get Patriots game stats and the inside scoop on the season with The Boston Globe's Point After newsletter delivered for free to your inbox. Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Brandon Mebane told reporters Wednesday his seven-week-old daughter, Makenna, died the Thursday before the team’s wild-card game against the Baltimore Ravens. “She wasn’t getting better so we had to make a decision,” he said. Mebane missed four regular-season games to care for Makenna, who was born with trisomy 13 — a very rare condition in which an individual has an extra chromosome 13. The 33-year-old veteran missed the Chargers’ win over the Ravens but said he plans to play against the Patriots in the divisional round Sunday. Makenna will be in his thoughts. “No matter where I am, I still think about her,” Mebane said. “I’m just happy I’m still able to play this game. Mebane, who has two other children with his wife Amena, said … [Read more...] about Chargers mourn death of defensive tackle Brandon Mebane’s infant daughter
Air Force plucks new defensive line coach Terrance Jamison from Texas Tech
Air Force hired former Texas Tech assistant Terrance Jamison as its new defensive line coach.Jamison spent two seasons on Kliff Kingsbury’s staff with the Red Raiders as defensive line coach after holding the same spot for three years at Florida Atlantic. He was also part of staffs at California (defensive quality control) and Wisconsin (four seasons that included two as student assistant, defensive quality control and graduate assistant).Each of Jamison’s 10 seasons in college coaching have been at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, with seven coming in the Power Five.Jamison played as a reserve defensive lineman at Wisconsin before knee injuries ended his career.In a tweet, Jamison said to “coach football at the Air Force Academy gives me the opportunity to positively impact our country’s finest young men in our country’s greatest sport and I’m thankful for that.”The official Air Force football Twitter account said Jamison is … [Read more...] about Air Force plucks new defensive line coach Terrance Jamison from Texas Tech
Michigan State mailbag: Offense needs a jolt to help supreme defense
Matt Charboneau The Detroit News Published 6:07 PM EST Jan 9, 2019 We took a break for the holidays — I mean, come on, I had trees to decorate and paychecks to spend on needy teenagers. But we’re back, now, with another edition of the Michigan State mailbag. Plenty has happened since we last chatted. Or, actually, not much has happened considering the football team managed six points in the Redbox Bowl and lost to Oregon in a game we watched all season. And no, there have been no staff changes, but that still was at the top of the list of topics this week. We tackled that as best we could, and even got a basketball question. It seems appropriate considering the Spartans are the sixth-ranked team in the country and are playing about as well as any MSU team since 2016. So here it is, the first MSU mailbag of the new year. Enjoy. ►Question. Being stacked at DB and with the returns of Bachie, Williams, and now Willekes, doesn't that put more pressure on … [Read more...] about Michigan State mailbag: Offense needs a jolt to help supreme defense