Red Star Belgrade v Liverpool: Team news
Jürgen Klopp can call on Naby Keita and Dejan Lovren again for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade.
Keita missed Liverpool’s past four games with a hamstring issue but returned to full training on Sunday and then travelled with the 21-man squad named by the Reds for the trip to Serbia.
“It was a very good start. He did a proper pre-season from the first day, played fantastic games and made a good start in the league,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com of the No.8.
“Then he had two [injury] things – in Naples and then with the national team. It was not that long, it only feels it. It was four games.
“[Sunday] was the first time in 100 per cent training so we will now have to see what we do with him for [Tuesday]. [The start] could have been a bit better, but only because of the injuries; all the rest was good.”
Lovren was not part of the 18 selected for the weekend game at Arsenal but also made the journey from Merseyside to Belgrade on Monday afternoon.
On the possibility of the Croatia international and fellow defender Joel Matip getting opportunities to displace Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk, Klopp said: “Dejan had games and will have games.
“The harder thing is Joel. He is in a very good shape. He had a difficult last year as well. He came back and could do most of the pre-season.
“That’s how the situation is. It’s not forever, it’s always in the moment. You have to use moments and stuff like that. The boys have reacted pretty well so far but I didn’t expect anything different.”
Nathaniel Clyne is unavailable due to illness, Jordan Henderson remained at Melwood to continue his recovery from a hamstring injury with a view to Fulham this Sunday, and Xherdan Shaqiri was left out.
Red Star have won all three of their league fixtures since the 4-0 defeat at Anfield last month, most recently beating Proleter Novi Sad 2-0 away from home on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Milan Borjan missed that game as a precautionary measure ahead of Liverpool’s visit, while striker Richmond Boakye is a doubt having not played since facing the Reds.
The Serbian champions are boosted, however, by the availability of Marko Marin – the attacker did not make the trip to Merseyside for the first of back-to-back meetings between the sides in Group C.
“We’re facing a strong team, but we have prepared well and are ready to give our best,” said Red Star coach Vladan Milojevic at his pre-match press conference.
“You have to be focused throughout when you play such quality sides. If you relax just for a minute you’ll get punished.”
Last time out
Proleter Novi Sad v Red Star Belgrade, November 3: Popovic, Stojkovic, Savic, Degenek, Rodic, Jovicic, Krsticic, Ben Nabouhane, Ebecilio, Marin, Pavkov.
Arsenal v Liverpool, November 3: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Mane, Salah, Firmino.