Joel Matip and Curtis Jones ought to return while Georginio Wijnaldum will drop to the bench when Liverpool welcome Burnley to Anfield on Thursday.
Liverpool will be desperate to end their four-game winless run in the Premier League when they play hosts to Burnley at Anfield on Thursday night. And, Jurgen Klopp has been handed a major injury boost ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, Naby Keita and Diogo Jota remain on the sidelines and each of them are still some way off making their returns. However, the good news comes in the form of Joel Matip’s fitness, with the Cameroonian defender available to take on Burnley.
Klopp provided an update on Matip during his pre-match press conference and said that he will take a late call on his return to the side for the first time in nearly a month. The Liverpool manager said, “Joel is in full training. Now we have to make a decision and we will see how that will be until tomorrow. Yesterday he trained completely normal.”
Liverpool vs Burnley Preview: Probable Lineups, Prediction, Tactics, Team News & Key Stats
Matip, though, should return to the heart of the Liverpool defence, where he will partner Fabinho, who was so excellent last time out against Manchester United. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are certainties as the full-back pairing while there is no looking past Alisson Becker in goal.
Meanwhile, Klopp also provided an update on van Dijk during his presser, saying, “I don’t know what is possible and what is not possible; I don’t think I’m the right person to judge that 100 per cent. He looks really good. I spoke to him this morning, I had him on the phone – he is in a really good mood. So it’s all very promising. But I don’t know when he will be back.”
While van Dijk might still be unavailable, Klopp has nearly all of his midfield resources available to him, with Matip’s return also freeing up Jordan Henderson to feature in midfield. The Liverpool captain should indeed start at the base of the three-man unit.
Henderson will be accompanied in the middle of the park by Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones, who will come in to provide a breather to Georginio Wijnaldum. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner will, therefore, be options on the bench along with Wijnaldum.
Finally, in attack, there is no looking past the first-choice trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, each of whom might be given some sort of rest later this week in the FA Cup fourth round against Manchester United. The likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino will be the attacking backups for Liverpool against Burnley.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Shakiri or Mignamino to replace Firmino, please! Please Firmino to rest. Klopp can’t see Firmino is so tired? He’ finished, you know. They want perhaps to sell the title?
What lam sure Liverpool will win the game