Jurgen Klopp has just two players unavailable as Liverpool prepare to face FC Porto in a Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie at Dragao.
Liverpool will be aiming to celebrate a return to the Champions League Round of 16 with a win when they travel to Estadio do Dragao to take on FC Porto in the Round of 16 first leg tie on Wednesday. And, Jurgen Klopp has seen his injury woes ease up completely this week.
Nathaniel Clyne is the last player to get off the treatment table, after completing his recovery from a long-term back injury. The Englishman has returned to full training, although the game has come too soon for him. But, he has travelled with the Liverpool contingent to Porto for the post-match camp.
There are doubts over the availability of another right-back, with Joe Gomez still struggling with a minor knee injury. Klopp confirmed the same in his pre-match press conference, iterating that Gomez faces a late fitness test to determine his availability.
“Joe needs to have a test tonight. It depends on how he looks in training and then I will start thinking about it. I don’t want to make pressure or rush him; it would be cool if he is available but we will see.”
If Gomez fails to regain complete fitness, Trent Alexander-Arnold should start on the right side of the Liverpool defence yet again, with Andrew Robertson on the opposite flank. Virgil van Dijk is set to make his Champions League debut for the Reds, and should have Dejan Lovren for company at the heart of defence.
In midfield, Emre Can is unavailable as he serves a one-match suspension after accumulating three yellow cards in the group stage. In his absence, Jordan Henderson is expected to return to the starting lineup in the deep-lying playmaker role.
Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner should make up the numbers in the midfield trio, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struggling for form of late and Adam Lallana still building up his fitness. The front trio, meanwhile, selects itself, considering the magnitude of the tie.
The dynamic duo of Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah will be the key men again upfront, while Sadio Mane will look to rediscover his best form having gone through an extended spell of poor form.
