Jurgen Klopp has offered an injury update ahead of Liverpool's clash with Arsenal after a number of players returned from international duty fatigued
Liverpool will be looking to bounce back from being beaten at West Ham last time out, when they take on Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Jurgen Klopp has never been backward in coming forward when it comes to his thoughts on international breaks and how they impact on the League schedule.
The Liverpool boss has been a regular critic of how international matches can lead to a stop-start campaign, particularly in the early months of the season.
Coming off the back of a defeat to West Ham at the start of the month, Liverpool will be desperate for a positive result, knowing the Gunners could leapfrog them with a win.
Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane will be fit to face Arsenal this weekend, Klopp said: "Sadio is fine – painful but fine.
"Everybody who had a rib bruise knows it’s an annoying thing. But Sad trained here with us now in all sessions.
"We took him out a little bit earlier here and there when we knew now it will be full contact, stuff like this, just to give it a bit more time to settle. But he looks fine.
Andrew Robertson
On what was otherwise a brilliant night for Scotland, the sight of Robertson limping off with a suspected hamstring injury was a major blow.
Robertson was substituted with around 11 minutes remaining of their victory over Denmark and now faces a race against time to be included this weekend.
"Robbo was lucky, we can probably say," said Klopp. "It was a little bit DOMS, the intensity of all the games he played probably, rather than anything else.
"He was smart enough to [make] the right decision, he went off early, which he usually is not doing. But in this case it was absolutely right, and so there’s a good chance that he can be involved at the weekend.
Jordan Henderson
The Reds skipper starred for England during the 5-0 cruise over Albania on Friday, but was absent in the Three Lions’ final qualifier against San Marino.
Henderson was sent home from England camp for further assessment on an injury which as of yet, is unspecified.
Klopp said on Henderson's situation: "Hendo, a little bit more (injured) than Robbo but a chance for the weekend. So we are working on that. It’s not a serious injury but in this short period of time we have to see if he is ready for Saturday. But after that, 100 per cent, and possibly for Arsenal as well."
While Klopp hasn't given up hope that Robertson and Henderson could face Arsenal, he's admitted the rest of Liverpool's walking wounded remain absent despite making good progress - ruling out five stars for the weekend fixture.
Joe Gomez
Gomez missed the games with Atletico Madrid and West Ham prior to the break with what was believed to have been a calf injury.
No timeframe has yet been put on his return and there is no hope he could be available against Arsenal.
Klopp said: "Joe is obviously still not available," he told the club website . "He is in a good way and it looks pretty good. It was clear he will need a few weeks and that's still (the case), the rehab is not finished. But in a good place actually.
Naby Keita and James Milner
Keita was ruled out of international duty with Guinea after suffering a thigh injury during the dramatic draw with Brighton at the end of October.
Keita was enjoying, arguably, his best run of form in a Liverpool shirt prior to the injury and Klopp hoped to welcome him back after this batch of international fixtures but not to Saturday's Anfield showdown with the Gunners.
Milner, on the other hand was spotted training away from the main group in a build-up to the game with Arsenal and if he is to be involved at all, it is likely only to be as a substitute.
Klopp said on both midfielders: "Naby and James are in a good way as well, getting closer. Probably next week we expect them being back in team training, let’s see what that means for the Porto game – but not for the weekend, they are not available.
Roberto Firmino
Liverpool are set to be without the Brazilian for a number of weeks after suffering what Klopp described as a "serious hamstring".
"Bobby (is) getting closer but not for the weekend. We’ll see, that will take a little bit longer still."
Curtis Jones
On Curtis Jones' eye injury, Klopp said: "I thought I saw all injuries as a manager, but that (Curtis Jones' injury) was really a freak one. He was very lucky – very lucky – in the end because we all know with the eye there's no jokes about that, let me say it like this.
"He is good, he is just not allowed to do a lot of things in the moment, we have to wait until the doctors give us a green light. Curtis is completely fine, he has his eyesight back, all these kinds of things, but the eye is still recovering."
Harvey Elliott
Just two months after suffering a horror ankle dislocation at Leeds in September, there were fears the 18-year-old could miss the entire season.
Elliott has since undergone successful surgery on the ankle and is already back out running on the pitches at the club’s AXA training facility on Monday.
There is still some way to go before the player who had started all four of Liverpool's league games before his injury, returns to competitive action.
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