Klopp confirms triple injury boost as Liverpool’s squad for Barca clash is revealed

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed a triple injury boost ahead of Liverpool’s huge Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona on Wednesday night.

The Reds boss provided the latest team news to Liverpoolfc.com this afternoon which included positive updates on the fitness of Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabinho.

Firmino was initially expected to miss the trip to the Nou Camp after suffering a groin injury last week and watched from the sidelines as Liverpool thrashed Huddersfield Town 5-0 at Anfield last Friday night.

However, the Brazilian international has made a swift recovery and was able to take part in full training with the rest of the Liverpool squad at Melwood on Tuesday morning before being named in the 23-man travelling squad.

Klopp has said it’s a huge boost to have Firmino back in contention to face Barcelona but he’ll leave it until the last minute before making a final decision over the strikers involvement tomorrow night.

Fabinho also missed the win over Huddersfield late last week due to concussion after a clash of heads during Liverpool’s win at Cardiff City on April 21 but the midfielder is available for selection against Barca.

The South American was among the 23-man squad that flew out of John Lennon Airport this afternoon and he was joined on the plane by Oxlade-Chamberlain after the midfielder made his long-awaited return against Huddersfield.

Klopp has confirmed Oxlade-Chamberlain has suffered no adverse reaction to making his first appearance in over a year so the former Arsenal man is in contention for a place in the squad tomorrow night.

The German coach told Liverpoolfc.com:

“Yes, of course [it’s a huge boost to have Firmino back].  We all knew from the beginning it would be a race. We don’t have to make a decision today because there’s no game today, we can wait. It looked good so far but until tomorrow I have to make that decision – after lunchtime tomorrow. That’s what I will do.”

“He [Fabinho] was not available. Every human being needs time and he needed that time, but it was already three or four days ago; if the Huddersfield game would have been a day later he could have played, but it was just impossible for that game. But it’s OK.”

“It’s good. To have him [Oxlade-Chamberlain] around again is cool. He reacted well but it’s small steps for him.

“The first small step – which was very nice and important – was against Huddersfield so we will see what the next one is for him. [There has been no negative reaction], he trained completely normally.”

In a further boost for Liverpool fans, Mohamed Salah has made the trip to Spain despite rumours on social media suggesting he had picked up a knock ahead of the Champions League semi-final clash.

Youngster Rhian Brewster is surprisingly named in the initial 23-man squad but it appears highly unlikely he’ll be involved in the final 18-man match-day squad as he continues to work his way back to full fitness from a serious injury.

The confirmed 23-man squad that’s travelled to Barcelona was revealed on Liverpoolfc.com:

Fabinho, Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Lovren, Milner, Keita, Firmino, Mane, Salah, Gomez, Alisson, Henderson, Sturridge, Moreno, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mignolet, Shaqiri, Brewster, Robertson, Origi, Matip, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold.