Liverpool entertain Sheffield United at Anfield on Thursday as they look to regain top spot in the Premier League.
Liverpool took charge of the title race on Sunday, beating Brighton 2-1 before rivals Manchester City and Arsenal played out a goalless draw to ensure the Reds ended the week in top spot.
After Arsenal’s victory against Luton Town on Wednesday night, though, Jurgen Klopp’s side cannot afford to slip up against bottom-of-the-league Sheffield United if they are to retain their two-point advantage.
Klopp, as has been the case so often this season, will be unable to call upon several senior players for Thursday’s clash. Eight players are set to be unavailable, with two players returning but another a doubt after Sunday’s win.
The best news on the injury front for the German manager is that Curtis Jones will make a welcome return to the squad, having missed the last four Premier League games with an ankle injury suffered in the victory at Brentford in mid-February.
“Curtis Jones is in full training and is in contention,” Klopp said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. He added: “But because Curtis is back it doesn’t mean he can play 90 minutes”.
Klopp also confirmed that Andy Robertson is back after a minor injury in the recent international break.
But the German revealed that midfielder Wataru Endo has a small knock from the Brighton game, so will need to be assessed before Thursday’s fixture to see whether he can be involved.
The Sheffield United fixture comes too soon for Diogo Jota (knee), Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee), Alisson (hamstring), and Stefan Bajcetic, but Klopp confirmed that all four are closing in on a timely return.
“The boys are doing well. Diogo and Trent are together in a group which helps both, but it just looks like next week hopefully [they will be] in parts of team training and then we will see.
“Alisson, he is with the goalkeeper coaches, and I just see them through the fence, but he looks good. In his mind as well, next week he will be part of team training,” Klopp continued.
Spanish youngster Bajcetic is also due to join first team training this week, having missed the majority of the season. He has been in full training with the u21 squad this week.
