Liverpool Team News: Rodgers Confirms Late Fitness Test + Offers Sturridge Update

Liverpool will look to continue their push for the top four when they take on Leicester City at Anfield on New Year’s Day.

Ahead of the game Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference and gave Liverpool.com the latest team and injury news.

The Northern Irishman confirmed that Dejan Lovren is due to have a late fitness test after only recently returning to first team training.

The Croatian defender picked up a groin injury during the Reds League Cup clash with Bournemouth on December 17 but could come back in to contention on Thursday after returning to training this week.

Lovren’s potential return is a timely one as Martin Skrtel is set to serve a one-match suspension having collected his fifth booking of the season during Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Swansea on Monday night.

Rodgers told the clubs website:

“We’re fine. Obviously Martin misses the game through suspension, but other players will be available.

“Dejan has only been back training in the last couple of days. We’ll see how he is today and then we’ll take it from there.

“If he’s not [fit] for tomorrow, then definitely for the FA Cup game [against Wimbledon].

“I am happy with the squad and the strength of it. It’s continually improving.

“Leicester will be a tough game for us. They had a great result at Hull, which will give them big confidence going away from home. They’re very resilient and we know it’ll be a tough game.”

Rodgers will be keen for Lovren to come through his fitness test but if he fails to make it then Kolo Toure could start alongside Mamadou Sakho and Emre Can at the back.

The Liverpool manager was also asked for an update on the fitness of Daniel Sturridge and he confirmed the striker is due to return from the United States in early January.

Sturridge has been continuing his rehabilitation from a long-standing thigh injury in Boston but Rodgers is hopeful he’ll be back in contention in mid-to-late January. He continued:

“He’s [Sturridge] coming back into the country in early January to finalise his rehab here.”

“Hopefully at some point in January – the middle to end – he’ll be available to play.”

It will be a major boost for Liverpool once Sturridge is finally back in action as he’s been sorely missed these past few months – although the Reds have began to find some form in recent weeks since Raheem Sterling has been played up front.

Liverpool head into the New Year sitting seventh in the Premier League after their 4-1 win over Swansea so will want to cut the gap on fourth-placed Southampton with another victory at Anfield over Leicester.