Liverpool team news: Reds provide fitness update on trio ahead of Arsenal clash

Liverpool will be looking to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup when they welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Wednesday night.

Ahead of the game, assistant manager Pep Lijnders has been speaking to the media at a pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided a team news and injury update including the latest on the fitness of Joel Matip, Xherdan Shaqiri and Mohamed Salah.

Shaqiri hasn’t featured for Liverpool since picking up a calf injury in training back in September and Lijnders has confirmed the Swiss international won’t be back in contention until after the next international break in November.

Matip has only played in one of Liverpool’s last five games in all competitions due to a knee injury and he aggravated the problem during the draw with Manchester United earlier this month.

Reports today suggest Matip is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines but Lijnders gave little away at his press conference other than to confirm the centre-back is injured and they’ll give him time to fully recover.

Salah limped off during the closing stages of Liverpool’s comeback win over Tottenham at the weekend after irritating an ankle injury that he sustained against Leicester City at the start of the month.

However, Lijnders has confirmed Salah’s withdrawal was just precautionary and the Reds assistant insists the forward is ‘fine’ – although he isn’t expected to feature against Arsenal tomorrow night.

Otherwise, Liverpool have no other injuries to worry about as they prepare to welcome Arsenal to Anfield. Lijnders told Liverpoolfc.com:

“Shaq will only be back after the international break. We want to give him the time. With a calf injury it is always very high risk, especially with his calves.

“Joel’s knee is still irritated – we need to give him time. I don’t know the exact time he will need but it will really need time to heal.”

“Mo is fine. Towards the end of the game it is more precaution because the ankle gets more tired and he feels it a little bit more and we have to take him off. But he is fine, he is good.

“All the others are fit, hungry and ready to go.”

Jurgen Klopp is expected to rotate his squad in the League Cup with several of Liverpool’s key players given a rest. Young goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is set to start in goal while the likes of Joe Gomez, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Adam Lallana and Rhian Brewster are in-line for recalls.