Latest Liverpool injury news as Jürgen Klopp given boosts after Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz updates
Liverpool meet Everton at Anfield on Monday night Jurgen Klopp hopes to welcome several players back in the coming weeks.
Virgil van Dijk is among those who will return sooner rather than later and played a role in training today but Luis Díaz will need a little longer – but two other players returned to full practice this week to give the Reds a boost.
Klopp will provide a full update in his pre-Everton press conference, which takes place at 9.45am (UK time) on Friday morning.
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But here at Liverpool.com we try to keep you up to date with the latest injury news after every single game. Here’s how things are shaping up ahead of the Merseyside derby.
Diogo Jota
The Portuguese striker, who was injured in October’s game against Manchester City, is back in Liverpool training. He trained with the squad at the AXA training center on Wednesday and could make a timely comeback in the derby.
However, Jota went 24 games without a goal before picking up his long-term injury. He will need time to get back into shape and fitness and cannot be the savior of the season alone.
Luis Diaz
The Colombia striker is still working his way back into shape, but Klopp confirmed last week he was in the final weeks of the recovery timeline after starting running again.
He’s still a long way off and even if he comes back he’ll be different, like Jota who will need time to get back on track after so long on the sidelines.
Fabinho
The Brazil midfielder missed last week’s game against Wolves due to illness but likely would have sat out the game anyway given his recent form.
Fabinho has lost his place at Stefan Bajčetić and the young Spaniard are likely to be the man starting Monday night’s biggest game of his career so far. However, its older counterpart is back in training and available.
Roberto Firmino
Firmino was only to be absent for a short time but has now missed a number of games. Last week Klopp said he was ‘getting closer’ but there was nothing more specific than that. However, like Van Dijk, he now plays some role in team training, albeit seemingly away from the main group.
Having him and Jota back would suddenly make Liverpool’s attacking options seem stronger again, giving them a few more options to rotate and help out Cody Gakpo. Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah.
Arthur Melo
Having only played 13 minutes for Liverpool so far, his emergency loan didn’t go as planned. Left out of the Champions League squad for the knockout stages, he will not get any minutes there.
However, Arthur is back in full training as the latest training photos confirm. And he could play a role in the second half of the season, although even now that he’s fit he’ll be fighting for game time. Notwithstanding, a return to the main group alongside Jota is a double boost for Klopp, who scratches part of the ‘injured’ list at the club.
Ibrahima Konate
Konaté is out for a few more weeks with a hamstring injury but should be back around the time Real Madrid play in the Champions League round of 16.
The French defender was injured in the FA Cup against Brighton meaning that Joël Matip and Joe Gomez will likely be the partnership that starts the Merseyside derby.
Virgil van Dijk
The Dutch defender should take part in some elements of training this week, as Klopp said last week. Sure enough, he’s been pictured now. With the defense in shambles last weekend, the quicker he comes back the better he comes back – but Everton will most likely come early.
Liverpool could also make do with their size from set pieces which have proved to be a big problem of late. Sean Dyche’s Everton in particular are likely to target them as an outlet for success at Anfield.