Liverpool team news: Klopp offers injury update on key duo ahead of Newcastle clash

Premier League football returns this weekend as Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on Saturday lunchtime. 

Ahead of the game, Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided an update on the fitness of Naby Keita and Alisson Becker.

Keita is yet to feature for Liverpool this season after suffering a groin injury on the eve of the new campaign and his recovery has taken longer than expected. However, the Guinea international has been stepping-up his rehab recently and Klopp has confirmed Keita should be in contention soon.

The midfielder will miss Saturday’s clash with Newcastle and Liverpool’s Champions League group stage opener against Napoli on Tuesday night but Klopp hopes Keita will return to training later next week which could put him in contention for a place in the squad against Chelsea on Sunday 22nd.

Alisson has been on the sidelines since suffering a serious calf injury during the early stages of Liverpool’s Premier League opener against Norwich City last month. The Brazilian international has been steadily improving but Klopp isn’t expecting the goalkeeper to be available until after the October international break and he insists they aren’t putting any pressure on him to return ahead of schedule.

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

“Funnily enough, we had lunch together [just now]; he looks good and he is improving, but we cannot put any pressure on it.

“It was a really serious injury in the calf. It is now much better, of course, and that’s good for us and good for him, but we don’t know exactly [how long it will be].

“The target was always after the next international break [that] he could be ready, but we don’t know. So, as I said, there is no pressure and hopefully everything will be fine for the rest of the season, that’s the plan.

“Naby is close, much closer than Ali. I think he could be in training when we come back from Napoli next week.”

Alisson’s continued absence means Adrian will deputise between the sticks during games against Newcastle, Napoli, Chelsea, Sheffield United, Salzburg and Leicester. We’ll have to wait and see how Alisson’s progresses over the coming weeks as the Liverpool stopper aims to make his comeback against Manchester United on October 20th.

Otherwise, Liverpool have a healthy squad to choose from as no players reported any injuries during the international break. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will be well rested as they were given time off during the two-week hiatus but Roberto Firmino and Fabinho will need to be assessed at Melwood today after arriving back late from duty with Brazil.