Diogo Jota will return to action when Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside Derby on Monday night.
Liverpool come into the game against a motivated Everton winless in their last four league matches. And the Merseyside outfit will be desperate to return to winning ways on Monday night. Everton will fancy their chances of pulling off an upset at Anfield on Monday night. And it remains to be seen whether the hosts can step up and produce a match-winning performance.
Liverpool were already without the services of Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz because of long-term injury problems. However, they will be boosted by the return of Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who has returned to training after missing out against Wolves last weekend due to wellness.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Diogo Jota has been training normally for a couple of days. And the Portuguese international could be a part of the Liverpool squad to face Everton. The Reds have been dealt a major injury blow heading into the derby game, with Thiago Alcantara sidelined because of a hip flexor problem.
But the Liverpool manager confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk are currently back in training However, the duo will not feature against Everton. On-loan Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo is in a similar situation and is expected to return to action in the coming weeks.
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“The players are back in training, [but] still in different stages,” Klopp said before continuing, “Diogo is the closest, he trains now normal already for two days, so another three days [of] training is possible for him. I think he is in contention for the squad, I would say, but we have to wait a little bit.”
“Bobby next one, I don’t know, we have to see how that looks now, how he deals with training intensity [and] stuff like this and then we make a decision there. Virgil, I don’t think he is that close already, but we will work on that as well. Arthur, probably similar to Bobby, I would say.”
On Thiago, Klopp added, “Yeah, Thiago has some problems. I know the problems, but I have to ask the medical department what I am allowed to say about it. Hip flexor, stuff like this, that’s it pretty much. He wasn’t able to train.”
Liverpool are likely to start with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson as their full-backs. Joel Matip will partner Joe Gomez at the heart of the defence in the absence of van Dijk and Konate. Alisson Becker will retain his place in goal.
In the midfield, Fabinho should reprise his role as the defensive midfielder, with Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita alongside him. Henderson will look to add drive and defensive cover alongside Fabinho, while Keita will hope to add some craft and incision with his passing.
Uruguayan international Darwin Nunez is all set to lead the line against Everton, with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo lining up as the wingers. And Jota will likely emerge as an option off the bench later in the game.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
