MatchNewcastle United v Liverpool: Team news
Jürgen Klopp expects Virgil van Dijk to be available for Liverpool’s trip to Newcastle United.
Van Dijk has not featured since sustaining a muscle injury in early January but Klopp believes the centre-back will be fit to return at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
"I think so," the manager said on Friday, when asked if his No.4 is ready to start the match having been on the bench for the win over Everton.
"Yesterday he looked absolutely ready. I think today he will look the same and then we make a decision."
Thiago Alcantara, Luis Diaz, Ibrahima Konate and Calvin Ramsay are still out, with Klopp detailing that Ramsay is likely to miss the remainder of the season following surgery.
But Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota are in contention again this weekend after making their returns as substitutes in the Merseyside derby.
"Same squad [as against Everton], nothing happened. Who could have come back since then? Ibou not yet, Luis not yet but that's it pretty much,” the boss stated.
"Nothing happened on the injury side. Thiago, not available. Calvin had surgery, not available. But that's it."
Bruno Guimaraes will serve the last of a three-match suspension for Newcastle.
Joe Willock and Matt Targett are doubtful, but Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin are available.
"I don't think there are any fresh injuries," Eddie Howe said. "Matt Targett's made a very welcome return to training, the first steps for him.
"I won't push him this weekend at this moment in time, but it's a good sign for him that he's nearing coming back.
"Joe, we haven’t seen yet. I think he’ll be doubtful for the game tomorrow. I don’t think it’s a big injury at all, a very minor complaint with his hamstring, so we hope to get him back very quickly."
On Saint-Maximin and Almiron, Howe added: "They’ve been training and, yeah, they’re fine.”
Callum Wilson has also been absent, having missed Newcastle's last fixture.
"Callum’s done really well," the Magpies manager continued. "As we said at the time, it was a very minor complaint.
"He hasn’t trained yet. We hope that he trains today, and then he’s in contention."
Last match
AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle (February 11): Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Longstaff, Willock, Joelinton, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Isak.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton (February 13): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Fabinho, Bajcetic, Henderson, Salah, Gakpo, Nunez.
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