Jurgen Klopp has just one player on the treatment table as Liverpool prepare to host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.
The top four battle will turn over a new leaf on Sunday when Liverpool welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield, with just two points separating the two sides. And Jurgen Klopp has a lot of positives this weekend, with just one first-team player absent due to injury.
Ragnar Klavan is still recovering from a minor thigh injury that has kept him on the sidelines for the last three weeks, but has stepped up his recovery and is set to return to training next week. The Estonian’s absence does not pose much of a problem though, with the three other centre-backs fully fit.
Among those, Virgil van Dijk seems to be a certain starter at the heart of the Liverpool defence, with either Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren partnering him. After last week’s showing, Lovren looks the likeliest to line up alongside the Dutchman. Meanwhile, Klopp came clear on his decision to rest van Dijk in the midweek game in his pre-match press conference.
“We thought it made sense to rotate. It was a purely physical thing. Dejan was ill before and was back in training for a few days, so we had two completely fit players [in Lovren and Joel Matip]. I know how they react in different situations physical-wise, that’s why they played and Virgil didn’t play.”
There was more positive news in defence, with Nathaniel Clyne edging closer to returning to full training. The English defender is yet to feature for Liverpool this season as he continues to recover from a long-term back injury.
In his absence, Joe Gomez should continue as the right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold the alternate option. On the left side of the Liverpool defence, the impressive Andrew Robertson is likely to start once again, with Loris Karius expected to be the man guarding goal once again behind the back-line.
Up ahead in midfield, Klopp has a gamut of options at his disposal, with another set to be added soon. Adam Lallana has returned to training after his latest injury setback, although the game has come too soon for him.
“In an ideal world, he should not be involved for the weekend because, as we all know, there are real different stages – being fit, able to train and then being match-fit. It’s better for Adam that he can train for the next 10 days until the Southampton game and then he should be ready for sure.”
In Lallana’s absence, Klopp should continue with Emre Can and Jordan Henderson in midfield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain likely to start in place of James Milner. The attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino should remain unchanged considering the magnitude of the game.
Jurgen Klopp has just one player on the treatment table as Liverpool prepare to host Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.
The top four battle will turn over a new leaf on Sunday when Liverpool welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Anfield, with just two points separating the two sides. And Jurgen Klopp has a lot of positives this weekend, with just one first-team player absent due to injury.
Ragnar Klavan is still recovering from a minor thigh injury that has kept him on the sidelines for the last three weeks, but has stepped up his recovery and is set to return to training next week. The Estonian’s absence does not pose much of a problem though, with the three other centre-backs fully fit.
Among those, Virgil van Dijk seems to be a certain starter at the heart of the Liverpool defence, with either Joel Matip or Dejan Lovren partnering him. After last week’s showing, Lovren looks the likeliest to line up alongside the Dutchman. Meanwhile, Klopp came clear on his decision to rest van Dijk in the midweek game in his pre-match press conference.
“We thought it made sense to rotate. It was a purely physical thing. Dejan was ill before and was back in training for a few days, so we had two completely fit players [in Lovren and Joel Matip]. I know how they react in different situations physical-wise, that’s why they played and Virgil didn’t play.”
There was more positive news in defence, with Nathaniel Clyne edging closer to returning to full training. The English defender is yet to feature for Liverpool this season as he continues to recover from a long-term back injury.
In his absence, Joe Gomez should continue as the right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold the alternate option. On the left side of the Liverpool defence, the impressive Andrew Robertson is likely to start once again, with Loris Karius expected to be the man guarding goal once again behind the back-line.
Up ahead in midfield, Klopp has a gamut of options at his disposal, with another set to be added soon. Adam Lallana has returned to training after his latest injury setback, although the game has come too soon for him.
“In an ideal world, he should not be involved for the weekend because, as we all know, there are real different stages – being fit, able to train and then being match-fit. It’s better for Adam that he can train for the next 10 days until the Southampton game and then he should be ready for sure.”
In Lallana’s absence, Klopp should continue with Emre Can and Jordan Henderson in midfield, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain likely to start in place of James Milner. The attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino should remain unchanged considering the magnitude of the game.