MatchLiverpool v Newcastle United: Team news
Curtis Jones and Joel Matip have been involved in training ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Newcastle United as Jürgen Klopp sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ regarding injury concerns.
The pair were pictured out on the pitches at the AXA Training Centre during Monday’s session as the Reds prepare for another home Premier League encounter following last weekend’s 9-0 defeat of AFC Bournemouth.
Wednesday’s visit of the Magpies will come too soon for Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota, but the manager was also able to report positive news on their recoveries, as well as Caoimhin Kelleher and Calvin Ramsay.
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Watch on YouTube“I think Diogo can train from Thursday on and Thiago I think slightly later, so we will see,” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference.
“Calvin is getting closer, Caoimh I saw now only walking outside going for normal goalkeeper training. So yeah, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, definitely.”
The meeting with Newcastle marks the final match of Darwin Nunez’s three-game suspension in the league due to his red card against Crystal Palace. Naby Keita, Ibrahima Konate and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain sidelined with injury.
Newcastle have several availability issues ahead of the trip to Anfield, with boss Eddie Howe conceding ‘we’re slightly stretched’ at his pre-match press conference.
Bruno Guimaraes is a doubt for the fixture with a hamstring complaint. “He’s doing well. I don’t know about this game coming up but hopefully not far after if he doesn’t make this game,” said Howe.
Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson are also carrying hamstring issues, with Howe saying of the former: “He is a worry for us at the moment.”
Emil Krafth is facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to an ACL injury and former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is out, though Kieran Trippier is expected to be fine to feature against the Reds.
At the time of Howe’s media briefing on Tuesday morning, Newcastle were still awaiting confirmation that new signing Alexander Isak has received clearance to play.
“I don’t know, still don’t know,” said Howe of the striker’s status. “I hope so, I desperately hope so. It would be great to see him involved for us but we’re in the hands still of other people.
“So, desperately hoping that gets done before the game but there’s no guarantee as I sit here now. I think it [the cut-off point] is 75 minutes before kick-off, so it could go down to the wire, we’ll wait and see.”
Last match
Liverpool 9-0 AFC Bournemouth (August 27): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Elliott, Diaz, Salah, Firmino.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Newcastle (August 28): Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, S. Longstaff, Willock, Joelinton, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Wood.