Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will miss Monday’s clash with Arsenal as he has not fully recovered from the knock which forced him off at half-time of Sunday’s win at Chelsea.
The absence of the England midfielder increases the chance of Jurgen Klopp handing a first start for new signing Thiago Alcantara, who was Henderson’s replacement at Stamford Bridge.
“We will see, we will see. We have a few days to train, some boys have to recover from last night (the 7-2 Carabao Cup win over Lincoln, so we will see how we set up against Arsenal,” said Reds boss Klopp when asked about the Spain international’s ability to start after only 45 minutes game time.
“I have an idea, but why should I make the decision today when we have time until Monday? But he is in contention, for sure. Yeah, let’s see.”
Klopp received some good news with Joe Gomez set to return to training, giving the manager the option of restoring his first-choice centre-back partnership at Anfield, having played midfielder Fabinho there last weekend.
He added: “Joe should be back today in training. Billy the Kid (17-year-old centre-back Billy Koumetio) is back in training. Joel (Matip) is not. Hendo is not yet, this game is for sure too early.”
Jürgen Klopp provides a fitness update on Henderson, Gomez, Matip, Thiago and Koumetio… #LFC | #ARSLIV — Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 25, 2020
While much of the focus has been on Liverpool’s new arrivals, with Diogo Jota making a second-half debut against Lincoln and set for inclusion in Monday’s Premier League squad, attention is now turning to fringe players who may be offloaded.
Harry Wilson, who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, is attracting interest from Burnley while young striker Rhian Brewster, who would normally have been expected to play in the Carabao Cup but was left out at Lincoln, is a target for Sheffield United.
Klopp, however, would not be drawn on any departures.
“It should not surprise you transfers or these kind of things we don’t really speak about,” he said.
“He was not in the squad you can make of it what you want.
“There is nothing to say about it otherwise we would have to speak about it constantly.”
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