MatchLiverpool v Bournemouth: Team news

Jürgen Klopp confirmed five players are closing in on returns to fitness, though this weekend’s Premier League encounter will come too soon for Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Caoimhin Kelleher and Joel Matip.

Asked if he was likely to have anyone back at his disposal, the boss told his pre-match press conference on Friday: “This weekend probably not but after that Joel, Curtis, Thiago is not too far away, Diogo is getting closer, Caoimhin will be in training, I think, early next week as well.

“So yeah, positive news but I don’t think anybody will be ready for tomorrow.”

Klopp also stated Naby Keita will be absent after a muscle issue ruled him out of Monday evening’s defeat at Manchester United.

“Naby will not be ready for the weekend, of course not,” he said. “We still need to have a look exactly how long it will take. It’s a muscle and it’s not 100 per cent clear, but [he] will not be in for the next week.”

Ibrahima Konate, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calvin Ramsay remain sidelined, while Darwin Nunez will serve the second game of his three-match suspension.

If he finds the net against Bournemouth, Mohamed Salah will become Liverpool’s outright second-highest scorer in the Premier League with 121 goals.

Should the Reds strike three times, they’ll reach the landmark of 800 in all competitions during Klopp’s tenure.

Scott Parker could be boosted by the return to fitness of former Reds striker Dominic Solanke, the Bournemouth boss revealed at his pre-match press conference.

An ankle injury had sidelined Solanke since earlier this month but he is returning to training just ahead of the journey to Anfield.

“Dom will train with us tomorrow, first time in full training so, hopefully, if he comes through that could be an option for us,” Parker said on Thursday.

Jamal Lowe has also resumed sessions following illness, but Ryan Fredericks, Joe Rothwell and Junior Stanislas are ruled out of the clash with Liverpool.

Parker said of the injured trio: “They still won’t make the weekend, they are still behind in that sense. They are getting very close, Ryan is probably the closest so hopefully he’s not too far away.”

Last match

Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool (August 22): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Elliott, Diaz, Salah, Firmino.

Norwich City 2-2 (3-5 pens) Bournemouth (August 23): Neto, Greenwood, Senesi, Hill, Stacey, Cook, Pearson, Christie, Marcondes, Anthony, Saydee.