GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM DID not expect to play any part in Liverpool’s Premier League clash with West Ham — and didn’t even bring his boots with him to the London Stadium.
Wijnaldum hobbled off during the Champions League win against Maribor in midweek but remarkably played the full 90 minutes against the floundering Hammers this evening.
Speaking after the Reds’ 4-1 win, manager Jurgen Klopp said the midfielder had only travelled down to the capital with the squad while en route to Amsterdam where he is due to visit a doctor.
But after captain Jordan Henderson was forced to withdraw with injury, the Dutch midfielder was drafted in as a surprising replacement at short notice.
“Gini Wijnaldum did not have his boots here,” Klopp explained to Match of the Day.
“We thought he had no chance of playing. We only brought him here so he is nearer to Amsterdam, he was flying there to see the doctor, and he played 90 minutes.”
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