Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is fit to start against Premier League champions Manchester City after missing the midweek game with an illness.
Liverpool will be aiming to widen the gap at the top of the Premier League table with a win, when they lock horns with reigning champions Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds have been handed a fitness boost ahead of the high-profile encounter, as captain Jordan Henderson is back in contention after missing the midweek game against Genk with an illness. There were some fears over the availability of Virgil van Dijk after he missed training on Thursday, but manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the Dutchman is available for selection.
All the latest #LIVMCI team news from both sides ahead of tomorrow's showdown… https://t.co/gFRyU612Gq
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 9, 2019
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Klopp said: “Virg was for other reasons not here [on Thursday] but he is completely fine. Jordan is completely fine.” However, Liverpool will once again have to make do without the services of defender Joel Matip, while Xherdan Shaqiri and Nathaniel Clyne also remain sidelined for the league leaders.
Klopp had made a number of changes to his side for the Champions League game against Genk, but is expected to recall all his heavy-hitters for the clash against Manchester City on Sunday.
Andrew Robertson will return at left-back after being rested in the midweek, while Dejan Lovren should replace Joe Gomez at the heart of the defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk will hold on to their places in the Liverpool defence, with first-choice custodian Alisson Becker starting between the sticks on Sunday.
Fabinho is a certainty to feature in the holding midfield role, but Klopp faces a bit of a selection dilemma for the other two spots in the middle of the park. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has impressed in spades in recent games, while the likes of James Milner and Naby Keita are also in contention for selection.
However, the manager is likely to go in with his tried and tested combination of Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored in the midweek and the fit-again Jordan Henderson against the Premier League champions.
Klopp had opted to leave out two of his three star attackers from the starting XI against Genk in the midweek, with both Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino getting only a few minutes from the bench. However, both are obviously expected to return to the lineup for the Manchester City game to combine with Mohamed Salah in the Liverpool frontline.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
