Liverpool will have left-back Andrew Robertson back for their crunch home game against rivals Chelsea on Sunday.
Liverpool will face off against top four hopefuls Chelsea in matchweek 34 of the 2018-19 Premier League at Anfield this weekend, with an eye on retaining their top spot in the table.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have a two-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City, who could overtake them provided they beat Crystal Palace in their clash at Selhurst Park earlier in the day. And Liverpool cannot afford any slip-ups at this crucial juncture of the season, if they are to end their 29-year-long wait for the league title.
Liverpool have been boosted by the return of left-back Andrew Robertson, who missed the midweek clash against FC Porto due to suspension. The returning Scotsman should walk into the starting XI against Chelsea, replacing James Milner.
Klopp has his complete centre-back contingent available for the game, with Dejan Lovren making his first start in three months against Porto. Joe Gomez has also recovered after his leg fracture, but is unlikely to make it to the starting lineup against Chelsea.
Speaking of the Englishman in his pre-match presser, the German said, “We have to make sure he is 100 per cent fit. As long as the other boys are all fit and stuff like that, we can give Joe the time to train and maybe get some match practice in some other games – we will see how we can do that exactly, I’m not 100 per cent sure. But we will need Joe in the last part of the season.”
Virgil van Dijk is an ever-present at the heart of Liverpool defence and that will not change on Sunday. However, Joel Matip could return to the lineup in place of Lovren.
The midfield department is likely to give some selection headaches for Klopp ahead of the Chelsea game. Captain Jordan Henderson made an excellent impression in the midweek in an advanced role in the middle and should hold on to his spot, while Fabinho has become indispensable in the defensive midfield position.
That leaves Milner, Naby Keita and Georginio Wijnaldum competing for the third slot in midfield. Klopp confirmed that Wijnaldum is expected to recover from a minor back problem to be available for the game, but given Keita’s recent goal-scoring form, the Guinean is likely to hold on to his spot in the lineup.
Sadio Mane will recover from a minor thumb injury, the manager confirmed in his press conference. The Senegalese has been Liverpool’s in-form attacker and is a certain starter on the left-side, while Mohamed Salah will start on the right flank and look to score against his former club. Roberto Firmino, who starred in the game against Porto, will complete the attack for Liverpool.
