- Ragnar Klavan closing in on return from injury
- Liverpool defender suffering with minor thigh problem
- Klavan missed Reds’ last two games
- SEE MORE: Klopp: defender close to Liverpool return
Ragnar Klavan is close to his return from injury but is unlikely to be ready in time for Sunday’s clash at home to Tottenham.
The Liverpool defender was absent for the FA Cup defeat to West Brom and Tuesday’s victory over Huddersfield having recently suffered a thigh problem.
His setback continued a frustrating theme that has emerged on Merseyside, with niggling injuries proving disruptive to Jurgen Klopp’s desire to find consistency with his centre-back pairings.
Klavan is eyeing up a return to training next week as he looks to rediscover the promising form he display over the festive period.
“It’s getting better,” the Estonian told Liverpoolfc.com.
“The prognosis is that I’ll train with the team again next week. I’m not targeting a game per se, but I’m hoping to train with the squad on Wednesday.”
The 32-year-old earned the respect of the Anfield faithful over Christmas as an unsung member of the squad and one of the Reds’ top performing defenders at the time.
His calming presence fared well as Klopp’s men surged to an 18-game unbeaten run, which included a 2-1 win over Burnley courtesy of a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Klavan himself.
The fight for a place at the heart of Liverpool’s defence remains wide-open, even after Virgil van Dijk’s £75million arrival from Southampton.
A starting duo of Joel Matip and Van Dijk looks possible for Sunday, with Dejan Lovren having endured a difficult afternoon in October’s 4-1 defeat at Wembley.