Liverpool team news: Klopp confirms huge injury boost ahead of Southampton trip

Liverpool will be looking to maintain the pressure on Manchester City with a win over Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Friday night.

Ahead of the game, Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided an update on the fitness of Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutch international sparked fears he was set for a spell on the sidelines after he was seen limping during the closing stages of Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.

Van Dijk had taken a kick to his ankle late in the second half against Spurs but Klopp has confirmed a huge boost after revealing that the centre-back trained normally on Tuesday so should be in contention for the trip to the South Coast to face his former club on Friday.

Klopp told reporters:

Klopp: "Virgil has trained normally. It all looks okay."

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) April 3, 2019

The news will come as a welcome relief to Liverpool fans as van Dijk has been a key figure for them this season and has played a pivotal role in their title challenge so the last thing the Merseysiders would want is to lose him.

Elsewhere, Joe Gomez is close to making his first team comeback after returning to full training following 15 weeks on the sidelines with a fractured leg but it remains to be seen whether he’ll be deemed fit to face Southampton on Friday night.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is certain to miss the game against his former club as he’s still working his way back to full fitness following a serious knee ligament injury but otherwise Liverpool have a healthy squad to choose from.

The Reds currently sit two points clear of Man City at the top of the table but Pep Guardiola’s men should regain top spot with a win over Cardiff this evening so the pressure will be back on Liverpool to respond at Southampton.