Jurgen Klopp does not have any fresh injury concerns ahead of Liverpool’s biggest fixture of the season so far against AS Roma at Anfield on Tuesday.
Liverpool will lock horns against Serie A side AS Roma in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinals tie, on Tuesday at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s side made it to the final four of the competition courtesy of a hugely impressive 5-1 aggregate win over newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester City in the quarter-finals and the manager will be hoping to carry the momentum against the Giallorossi.
With Tuesday’s game in mind, the German tactician had opted to rest a number of regular starters for Liverpool’s weekend fixture in the Premier League against West Bromwich Albion, which they drew 2-2. And he is likely to recall most of them to the starting lineup on Tuesday.
Ahead of the game, Liverpool had been handed an injury boost, with full-back Nathaniel Clyne returning to full training after he missed the weekend game due to a muscle problem, as reported by the club’s official website. They will, however, continue to be without the services of midfielders Adam Lallana and Emre Can whereas Joel Matip is out for the season.
German goalkeeper Loris Karius is expected to continue between the sticks for the Merseysiders, after having done well since being made the number one at the turn of the year.
Academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold has been immense for Liverpool in the recent weeks and will return to the starting lineup at right-back after not being involved over the weekend, while summer signing Andrew Robertson is also set for a recall at left-back to replace the woeful Alberto Moreno.
With Matip ruled out for the season and Ragnar Klavan showcasing indifferent form, it is very much guaranteed that Klopp will go into the game with the centre-back pairing of Dejan Lovren, who did not play on Saturday, and club record signing Virgil van Dijk. The two will be in for a test against the threat of Edin Dzeko.
Club captain Jordan Henderson missed out of the second leg against City owing to suspension, but is available for selection now and will right back into the lineup at the base of the three-man midfield. English international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is in line for a starting berth after being given a breather over the weekend, with James Milner expected to complete the trident ahead of Georginio Wijnaldum.
Liverpool’s fearsome attacking triad has been the biggest reason for their success this term. 41-goal star and freshly-named PFA Player of the Year Mohamed Salah will start out on the right flank against his former side on Tuesday with Sadio Mane expected to wreak havoc from the opposite flank with his speed and skills.
At the tip of the attack will be Brazilian international Roberto Firmino. Along with Salah, the 26-year old forward is the only other player to have featured in all of Liverpool’s 12 Champions League assignments this season. Meanwhile, Klopp spoke on the prospect of Salah facing his former side, in his pre-match press conference.
“Yes, it’s strange but in the end we are all professionals. Italian defenders are famous for not having friendly games so I think Mo will feel pretty early in the game that they are not his teammates anymore – and then he can strike back in a football way.”
