Liverpool team news update: Klopp confirms duo will miss Arsenal showdown

Liverpool will be looking to cement their place at the top of the table when they take on Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday evening.

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

Klopp has confirmed that Naby Keita remains on the sidelines as the midfielder is still recovering from a hip injury that he sustained in the warm up ahead of Liverpool’s victory over Norwich on the opening weekend of the season.

The Reds manager says Keita is edging closer to a return but is still expected to be out for a few weeks so he’s set to miss the upcoming games against Arsenal and Burnley before the international break.

When asked for an update on Keita, Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com:

“’Long-term’ doesn’t mean six months, it means a couple of weeks. So no, no real news. He’s still doing well but not close enough for this weekend.”

Liverpool will also continue to be without the services of number one goalkeeper Alisson Becker as he’s still recovering from a calf injury that he picked up during the early stages of the win at Carrow Road earlier this month.

Klopp says the goalkeeper is in good shape but he hasn’t set a comeback date for the Brazilian international as he doesn’t know when he’ll be available for selection again.  He told Liverpoolfc.com:

“[He is] not that close, but nobody told me that I have to consider him for tomorrow in training or the game. I had lunch with him today, so at least he can eat! He looks good, he is in good shape, a good mood, but it will take time, I don’t know [how long] exactly.

“[There is] no date in my mind and nobody told me a date, we didn’t ask, we want to give him the time he needs, but it looks good.

“In the beginning he was on crutches, which is normal with the injury he had. They are not there anymore, so he walks normally and he can really train completely differently now to a week ago.

“I think from now on it will go quick, but how quick I don’t know.”

Adrian will therefore continue to deputise between the sticks against Arsenal despite his error leading to Southampton’s goal during Liverpool’s 2-1 victory at St Mary’s last weekend.

The only other injury concern for Liverpool is Nathaniel Clyne and the full-back is facing several months on the treatment table after suffering an ACL injury in pre-season.

So Klopp has a relatively healthy squad to choose from as the European Champions aim to extend their winning start to the new campaign to three games having already registered victories over Norwich and Southampton.

If Klopp looks to freshen things up, Fabinho is pushing for a recall after being rested last weekend while the likes of Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Xherdan Shaqiri are other options for the Liverpool manager.