Liverpool Team News: Klopp Offers Mane Update + Hints Key Man Will Return vs Spurs

Liverpool will look to close-in on the top four with a win when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

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

The Reds boss has offered the latest on Sadio Mane’s fitness after the Senegal coach Aliou Cisse claimed yesterday that the attacker would be fit in time for their World Cup play offs against South Africa on November 10 and 14.

Mane picked up a hamstring injury during the last international break earlier this month and was initially ruled out for around six weeks meaning he wasn’t due to return until around the 20th November.

Klopp confirmed that Mane is still not even doing any exercises outside and says he doesn’t know if he’ll be fit for duty with Senegal but insists he’ll be pleased if the attacker does make a speedy recovery.

The Liverpool boss made a few changes for their Champions League win over Maribor on Tuesday night with James Milner impressing in midfield after coming in for Jordan Henderson.

However, Klopp has hinted that Henderson will come back in to the starting eleven against Tottenham after being given a well-earned rest in midweek.

Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com:

“Sadio is still in rehab, that’s how it is. He is indoor and was not even [doing] any exercises outside. That’s the situation in the moment.

“If he is fit earlier, I would be really happy but nobody knows in this moment. So, there’s nothing else to say about it.

“They have very important games or at least one; Senegal need one point from two games to be qualified for the World Cup, so I can imagine they feel the pressure a little bit.

“But we cannot change the situation. If Sadio is fit, we cannot hide it, why should we? If he is fit, we can do nothing to keep him here, he would go to the national team of Senegal, that’s clear. But in this moment, I don’t know.”

Klopp on Henderson coming back: "I won't speak about the line up but Jordan is our skipper. It made sense to rest him v Maribor."

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) October 20, 2017

Liverpool will continue to be without Adam Lallana as he works his way back to full fitness from a serious thigh injury while Nathaniel Clyne is also still nursing a back complaint.

The Merseysiders head to the capital sitting eighth in the Premier League table but can close the gap on third-placed Tottenham to just one point with a win at Wembley on Sunday.