MatchLeeds United v Liverpool: Team news

Jürgen Klopp has confirmed Thiago – who came off the bench in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal after nine weeks out with a hip problem – is under consideration to be in the Reds’ XI on Monday night.

Diaz, meanwhile, is likely to be among the substitutes having been back in full training following the knee injury he sustained in October.

During Friday’s pre-match press conference, Klopp also revealed Alisson Becker and Ibrahima Konate had each missed two training sessions this week while providing a general update on the condition of his squad.

When asked if Diaz is ‘100 per cent ready’ to play again, the manager replied: “Yeah, he’s 100 per cent ready in training so that’s it now. He is now completely normal in training and now we have to reintegrate him. He will be in the squad, if nothing happens Luis will be in the squad and from there we go. That’s it.

“He was out for a long time, it was not his season so far. Last week we played against Arsenal, the game before against Arsenal, the away game, was the game he got injured so a long time ago. Then one session in Dubai, out again, and now being back it’s really a long time.

“But it’s absolutely fine – he didn’t lose his skills, that’s good, but how I said we have to see how step by step we can bring him back into the team.”

On Thiago, Klopp said: “Super-important of course [that he is available]. Thiago as well – he was not out that long but it was long as well. It’s insane how quick time goes.

“It is a different situation [to Diaz], obviously. Thiago is a candidate for starting and if we start Luis probably people will tell me, ‘30 minutes’ and stuff like this and then we cannot start him [because] we have to make the first change a bit early.

“So, that’s different but no, [it’s] top – he can demand rhythm, how we all know, and when he is fresh he is a top, top, top player and that’s why we are really happy to have him back and in training so far it looks all good.”

The boss continued: “But we had a couple of problems this week, Ibou couldn’t train for two days, should be back today hopefully. Ali wasn’t involved for two days, will train today individually. So, a little bit illness here, a little bit knocks there.

“We had a few problems and hopefully will not get more, but if they are all in then I think we have five or six players not in the [matchday] squad. It’s a lot and they are all training well.

“It would be easy for me if somebody is not showing up then it’s a very easy decision but there are no easy decisions for who stays at home and stuff like this. So that’s tough for a few boys but really good for us. We never had that and that’s positive.”

Naby Keita has missed Liverpool’s last three games due to a muscle injury, while Stefan Bajcetic and Calvin Ramsay are sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Leeds’ Max Wober has missed his side’s last three Premier League fixtures due to a muscle injury, but head coach Javi Gracia may be able to call on the defender again on Monday.

Gracia told the media on Friday: “To be honest, I don’t know yet. He’s training some days with the team but we have two days more before the game and it’s something we have to see during the next days.”

On the general fitness of his squad, Gracia added: “We have some players with some different issues and some of them [are] without training in this moment, but in the next days we have to evaluate them and to decide. But maybe some of them will be out of the list for the next game.”

Midfielder Tyler Adams has been absent for Leeds’ previous four top-flight outings with a hamstring issue.

Last match

Leeds 1-5 Crystal Palace (April 9): Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Firpo, McKennie, Roca, Harrison, Aaronson, Sinisterra, Bamford.

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (April 9): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Jota, Salah, Gakpo.