Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita remain unavailable but Liverpool have no other fresh injury concerns ahead of the Premier League meeting with Cardiff City.

Both midfielders are still sidelined with hamstring injuries and will not return in time for the game at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

“For sure not,” said Jürgen Klopp when asked if either could feature this weekend during his pre-match press conference. “Both are in a good way but will not be ready for then.”

However, aside from long-term absentees Rhian Brewster and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the Reds otherwise have a full-strength squad to choose from.

Indeed, the manager provided insight on just how fierce the competition for places currently is at Liverpool when he applauded the attitude of those who have been short on game time recently.

“You can only play really good football when you train well and you can only train well if the training group is really strong. They are really strong,” noted the German.

Citing the likes of Nathaniel Clyne, Joel Matip, Alberto Moreno, Divock Origi and Dominic Solanke, he continued: “That makes life comfortable for a manager on one hand and on the other quite difficult, because we need these players 100 per cent.

“But if the boys continue like they trained in the last few weeks and months then they will have their moments, 100 per cent.”

The Reds used a 4-2-3-1 system in Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade with Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum as Klopp’s ‘double-six’ in midfield.

“It looked good, to be honest. It was a game where I thought it made sense to do it like this; it was not because of injuries,” said the boss of the formation.

“We could have lined up differently but I thought before the game it was the right thing to do to have these players in these positions. It was for sure not the last time we’ll use it in this way.”

For Cardiff, Joe Ralls is suspended while Harry Arter (ankle), Gary Madine (illness) and Josh Murphy (knock) are minor doubts ahead of the trip.

On the challenge of facing the Reds, manager Neil Warnock said: “I think their front three is probably the best around the world. But we’re playing quite well and I think we can cause problems.

“You’ve got to go there and believe. We’ve all got to play to the top of our potential to give them a good game, and hope that they have a bit of an off day.

“I know the lads are looking forward to it; it’s not every day you go to Anfield. It’s a special place for football.”

Last time out

Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade, October 24: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah, Firmino.

Cardiff City v Fulham, October 20: Etheridge, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett, Camarasa, Gunnarsson, Arter, Murphy, Reid, Paterson.