It’s a huge game against Tottenham Hotspur today; ahead of the clash at Anfield, Jürgen Klopp has provided some heartening injury news.
Despite withdrawing from international duty, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Xherdan Shaqiri have both returned to full training; Joe Gomez is also back at Melwood too, but looks unlikely to feature.
“Yesterday they were all in training, for all three pretty much the first full session, so we have to see how they react,” the boss told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“There was actually no alternative for Shaq and Trent, not being involved in the games in that period. Anything else would have been really crazy because they needed that, they needed treatment, needed rehab and all that stuff.
“Joe was back yesterday after 15 weeks, what a long time, but yesterday it looked really good. Of course, it’s early stages and he is really now adapting again to proper football training after having thousands of rehab sessions.
“They should all be OK, I heard nothing different this morning since I’ve been here, so they should be OK. They will train again today and then we will see.”
Having Trent and Shaq in contention for the Spurs game could be prove to be a massive boost for us. In the absence of a recognised right-back, we have to hope that he’s over that back injury.
Understandably, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can’t be called upon as he is still on the road to recovery from his long-term knee injury.
Naby Keïta, meanwhile, is another absentee for the Spurs game – the Guniean has picked up an ankle injury that has forced Klopp to leave him out of the matchday squad.
The visitors will be without midfield duo Eric Dier and Harry Winks, as well as Serge Aurier.
Ahead of the tall order at Anfield, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted, “It is a challenge to go there. They are unbeaten in the Premier League at Anfield, it is going to be a massive challenge.
“We respect them, they are doing a good job and are a very good team – it will be tough. Last season, the game was very tough; the performance was good and it is a good point to start to build in our mind the determination to go there and be competitive and win the game.
“But, of course, it is going to be difficult.”
He’s not wrong, but he’s right to quote our unbeaten status at Anfield. Teams fear playing us at home as they know our support – and the tantalising proximity of the title – gives us a competitive edge over anyone.
And, as if we didn’t need any further motivation, beating Spurs will put us back on top spot. The battle will be won in midfield – with Spurs’ injuries and the form of Gini Wijnaldum and Fabinho, you can expect us to win those duels.