Liverpool will receive a huge boost going into their trip to Leicester City on Tuesday night with a number of returning first-team stars.
Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Curtis Jones all missed Liverpool’s previous two league games with COVID-19, while Thiago was ruled out of the last match with the virus and Jordan Henderson also missed with a separate illness.
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But the Reds quintet will all return in a major positive for Jurgen Klopp, particularly to the midfield with four of the five returnees pushing for places in the middle of the pitch.
Alisson will start in goal as per usual, with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back and Kostas Tsimikas on the left due to Andrew Robertson’s suspension after his red card against Tottenham.
Ibrahima Konate has been impressive in the last few weeks and could partner van Dijk at the back, particularly after a game-changing cameo off the bench against Leicester in Liverpool’s thrilling League Cup comeback last week.
Fabinho should resume his place at No.6 with Henderson coming in ahead of him, and there could be a start for Naby Keita who was also excellent as a substitute in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Roberto Firmino made his return to the starting XI in that match and looked sharp, but Diogo Jota remains in outstanding goalscoring form and should keep his place up front.
Sadio Mane is quite the opposite having failed to contribute to a goal in his last seven games, the joint-worst run of his Liverpool career. The Senegalese star remains integral to the Liverpool attack, though, and he should keep his place on the left-wing with Mohamed Salah on the right.