Liverpool Team News: Rodgers Confirms Coutinho Back For Arsenal, Update On Leiva

Liverpool take on West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Saturday afternoon looking to maintain their impressive start to the new season.

Ahead of the game boss Brendan Rodgers has been giving his pre-match press conference and gave LiverpoolFC.com a team news and injury update including the latest on Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva.

Coutinho has been on the sidelines since having surgery on a shoulder injury picked up against Swansea City last month. Rodgers confirmed the Brazilian is now back in training and while this weekend’s clash with the Baggies will come too soon, the 21-year-old is expected to be back to face Arsenal next week.

Rodgers was also quizzed about the availability of Leiva after the midfielder surprisingly missed last weekends draw with Newcastle. The Reds boss revealed that the Brazilian was given the weekend off because his partner had only just given birth and he had also just come off the back of a tiring trip away with his national team, but the 26-year-old is back and in contention to face WBA this weekend.

Rodgers told the clubs official website:

On Coutinho…

“He might just be short for this weekend. You always miss quality. He has re-joined training with the group. He’s been on the field doing a lot of physical work. He has joined in with the team on a non-contact basis.

“I think, after the weekend, he’ll be fine. He has got really good strength in his shoulder now; it’s just getting him up to speed in training and joining the group.

“He has been in the last couple of days and has looked brilliant, to be honest – like he has never been away with his flow and fluency with the ball.

“His work has been excellent. It’s great to see him back in and it’s another quality player back for us.”

On Leiva…

“He’s fine. It was one where last week he became a father and on top of that, he had a long travel having been with the national team.

“He was in the hospital for a couple of days and could have been available, but sometimes that can be a risk – if you have lots of travel and lots of stress, mentally and physically in the body, sometimes you can go out there and actually injure yourself.

“But he’s back in and has trained really well this week. He’ll be back available in the squad.”

Now we’ve seen the team news, what would be your preferred line-up for the game? Share your suggestions below.