Liverpool team news: Reds issue injury update on 5 players ahead of MK Dons trip

Liverpool have issued an injury update on five players ahead of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup third round trip to MK Dons.

Jurgen Klopp gave media duties to assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders this afternoon and he’s confirmed a fresh injury blow with the news that Xherdan Shaqiri is facing a spell on the sidelines. The Swiss international suffered a calf injury in training and will need further assessment before a diagnosis is known, however, Shaqiri is certain to miss the League Cup clash tomorrow night.

Lijnders also provided the latest on the fitness of Naby Keita and confirmed the midfielder is set to make his comeback against the MK Dons on Wednesday night after recovering from a niggling muscle injury that’s kept him out since the Super Cup win over Chelsea last month.

The Liverpool assistant also had positive news on Sadio Mane as he’s revealed the attacker is expected to resume full training on Thursday. Mane picked up a knock against Chelsea at the weekend but Klopp was confident it was just a dead leg so the Senegal star should be fit for Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United.

Lijnders then provided an update on Alisson Becker and confirmed the goalkeeper is progressing well in his recovery from a calf injury but insists the club won’t rush their Number One back too soon or risk a setback.

The final update is on Divock Origi and the striker won’t make the trip to Stadium MK tomorrow due to a calf injury that he sustained against Newcastle but the Liverpool forward should be back in training soon.

Lijnders told Liverpoolfc.com:

“Yesterday towards the end of training, Shaq felt his calf stiffen up a little bit. He couldn’t continue and a scan showed he had a little tear there. We need to wait a couple of days, but for sure he is not in contention for tomorrow. He needs some rest, so he will not be involved.”

“Yes he [Keita] could return on Wednesday. I will not give the team but he is in a really good way. What a boy! He makes our build-up play completely different; he creates unpredictability how the ball moves forward. He is an important player, so hopefully we can use him in the next weeks and hopefully tomorrow will be a day where he can shine.”

“Sadio has a knock, of course, but he looks good. With having today off and having treatment tomorrow, I think on Thursday he will be back in training again, so that looks all good.”

“Ali is on his way back, but as we know with calf injuries you have to be careful, especially if you see how strong and big he is and how much weight he puts through his calves when he has to make these speed reactions. So we need to be careful and take it step by step, but it has all gone how we planned so far.

“Divock is in the right way and has already been on the pitch, but not with the team yet so that’s his next step. Hopefully that comes quickly.”

The Reds head to Milton Keynes in superb form having won all six of their Premier League games so far this season and Klopp is expected to make a number of changes with key players being given a well-earned rest.

Caoimhin Kelleher is set to make his debut in goal with Adrian rested while Rhian Brewster, Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Curtis Jones could be among those given a chance to impress against the MK Dons tomorrow night.