Klopp’s Pre-Man Utd Team News Update: Latest On Coutinho, Lovren, Lallana & More

Premier League football returns from the international break and the big game sees Liverpool entertain Manchester United at Anfield on Monday night.

Ahead of the game, Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s given Liverpoolfc.com a team news and injury update.

The Dutch coach confirmed that Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne are ‘in the race’ to start against the Red Devils on Monday after returning to full training this week following injuries.

Lovren picked up a groin problem during the win over Swansea before the international break while Clyne was forced to miss England’s World Cup qualifiers with a knee injury that he too sustained at the Liberty Stadium, but the duo are now set to return to the squad.

Klopp has also refused to rule either Georginio Wijnaldum or Adam Lallana out of the clash at Anfield with the Liverpool boss giving the duo as much time as possible to prove their fitness.

Wijnaldum is a doubt after limping out of Holland’s defeat to France earlier this week with a hamstring injury while Lallana is still nursing a groin problem that forced him out of international duty with England.

Klopp told the clubs website:

“[They are] not too bad but it’s a question of perspective, I would say,”

“In this moment, we don’t know exactly who is available. We all know about the obvious issues with Gini and Adam but they are both not ruled out for Monday.

“Four session to go sounds long, but [it’s] only four sessions to go, so we have to see. I don’t have to make a decision now, so I can wait until I make my final decision and we will have a really good team on the pitch I’m sure.

“Dejan and Nathaniel trained Tuesday and Wednesday so they are in the race.”

Klopp also gave an update on his Brazilian duo Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho and says that they are still feeling the effects of their long-haul trip to South America during the international break.

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However, Monday night’s kick off will give the attackers vital extra time to recover meaning they should be in contention to start against United. Klopp continued:

“It’s a big impact. It means we have four sessions to go until Monday night and that means that a lot of things can happen. I’ve made no decision yet.

“They came back, they did what they had to do until now. Roberto [did] a little bit more in the last session, Phil played nearly two complete games so he had only recovery after a long, long flight.

“Even after the club did everything to bring them as comfortably as possible back to England, it’s still a long trip.

“So, it’s still in their legs but each day, each hour helps until the next game and so that we play on Monday is an advantage in this case, of course.”

Liverpool welcome their fierce north-west rivals to Anfield sitting fourth in the Premier League table, three points above United and two adrift of leaders Man City, so it’s all to play for on Monday night.