Liverpool faces Norwich in the FA Cup fourth round, with seven players expected to miss for Jürgen Klopp, but three vital players might return and participate.
Despite Liverpool’s forthcoming FA Cup fourth-round encounter against Norwich City, the main topic of discussion isn’t the game itself. Instead, Jürgen Klopp’s declaration this week that he will stand down as manager at the conclusion of the season has seized the spotlight.
Klopp’s first game after the announcement is against his best buddy in football, David Wagner, who served as Klopp’s best man at his wedding in 2005. Liverpool and Klopp will be optimistic that they can win the game and advance to the fifth round.
Furthermore, Klopp has got encouraging news that Andy Robertson, who has been sidelined since mid-October, may play a role in the encounter. Robertson’s shoulder was so badly hurt during the game versus Spain that surgery was necessary.
Dominik Szoboszlai has also returned to training after missing a few weeks due to a hamstring injury. Both players’ comebacks will be a significant boost for Klopp, even if they are unlikely to play right away and will have to be eased back into action.
“Robbo is physically ready, and I think it was good to have him in the matchday squad, and he’s completely on the normal team training schedule,” Klopp stated in his pre-game news conference. “Like Dom [Szoboszlai] starting tomorrow. He had a session yesterday, and I believe he gets a day off today as well, so he will be perfectly normal starting tomorrow. That suggests he is clearly prepared for minutes.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold is also on his way back from injury, but the Norwich game may come too soon for the right-back. “With Trent, is it already Norwich or the game after? “We’ll see,” Klopp added. “He was not in team training, not even parts of team training yet, so if he can be in tomorrow, then I have to make a decision there.”
Alexander-Arnold has recently been sighted in squad training, and he may play a role. Meanwhile, Klopp’s customary list of long-term absentees remains unchanged, while Mohamed Salah has returned to Merseyside following his injury for Egypt at the AFCON for treatment.
Liverpool.com has compiled a complete list of players available to the manager as the Reds aim to advance to the fifth round. The draw will take place before kickoff at Anfield.
Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Caoimhín Kelleher, and Adrian.
Defenders: Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Owen Beck, and Andy Robertson.
Midfielders: Alexis MacAllister, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Forwards: Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez and Diogo Jota.
Players with injuries: Thiago Alcântara, Stefan Bajčetić, Kostas Tsimikas, Joël Matip and Ben Doak.
Players that are unavailable: Mohamed Salah (international duty, wounded) and Wataru Endō (international duty).
