Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Andy Robertson are the only absentees for Liverpool ahead of their Premier League showdown with Manchester City. As a result, Jurgen Klopp has the option to select Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate following their respective recoveries from injury – plus Alexis Mac Allister, who was forced to sit out of their win against Brentford, on the eve of the international break, after picking up five yellow cards.
Liverpool are looking to keep up their momentum after the convincing triumph over the Bees, moving the Reds up to second – just a point behind City. Pep Guardiola’s side were forced to settle for a point away at Chelsea as academy graduate Cole Palmer scored a stoppage time penalty for the Londoners.
The Reds record at the Etihad Stadium has been poor in recent seasons, their last win in east Manchester came in the Champions League in 2018. Prior to that, Liverpool were last victorious away at City in 2015 to goals from Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Martin Skrtel after Ellaquim Mangala’s own-goal. Jones and Konate were both absent for Liverpool’s win on the eve of the international break with muscle injuries but have since recovered, while a knee issue denied Gravenberch a eighth Premier League outing.
On Friday, Klopp revealed that the only injury concerns would be those set to be sidelined until the end of the calendar year.
“Only the long-term absentees are still out,” the German said. “No new concerns as I entered this room. Conor Bradley completed normal training but now he needs to compete in games, starting with the U21s. “Kaide Gordon was with us in training for the whole week which is really exciting. Now, he needs to have minutes but I think that’s it.”
The full Liverpool squad available against Brentford is:
Goalkeepers: Adrian, Caoimhin Kelleher, Alisson Becker. Defenders: Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Bradley.
Midfielders: Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones.
Forwards: Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah, Ben Doak, Luis Diaz, Kaide Gordon. Sidelined: Andy Robertson (shoulder), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Thiago (hip).
Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre
