Liverpool stars set to return in injury boost for title-chasing Jurgen Klopp
Jürgen Klopp is likely to need all hands on deck if Liverpool are to succeed in their bid for Premier League and Champions League glory this season.
Fortunately for the German, the Reds’ injury list is shrinking at just the right time, with a number of stars set to return after the international break.
Joe Gomez is perhaps the most notable of those, the defender closing in on a return to full training after over three months out with a broken leg.
And, while he may find it difficult to dislodge the in-form Joel Matip at centre-back, Klopp will be glad to have another option on the right-hand side of defence.
Although the back problem that forced Trent Alexander-Arnold to withdraw from the England squad is not considered severe, the young Scouser has dealt with a heavy workload in the absence of Gomez and is in line for a well-earned rest.
Klopp will also see his ability to rotate boosted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long-awaited comeback from the serious knee injury that was expected to keep him out for the entire season.
The Englishman suffered a setback in tweaking his hamstring during a recent outing for the U23s, but will be in full training after the latest round of international fixtures are complete.
His competitors for an attacking midfield start, Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita, have both missed national team duty this week due to fitness issues.
However, they are not expected to be facing lengthy lay-offs, and could even return for the visit of Tottenham to Anfield on March 31 should they recover as quickly as hoped.
The international break has also allowed Jordan Henderson to prove his fitness, the club captain featuring for England in a 5-0 win over Czech Republic on Friday after overcoming an ankle injury.
That leaves striker Rhian Brewster, who has yet to make his first-team debut, as the only injury concern remaining for Klopp going into a crucial tranche of fixtures that will decide Liverpool’s fate this season.
Source: Evening Standard
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