Despite Liverpool’s upcoming game against Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round, the major talking point going into the game isn’t about the match. Instead, Jürgen Klopp’s announcement this week that he is to step down as manager at the end of the campaign has taken center stage.
Somewhat fittingly, Klopp’s first game post-announcement is against his best friend in football, David Wagner, with Wagner being Klopp’s best man at his wedding in 2005. And Liverpool and Klopp will be confident going into the game that they can emerge victorious and book a place in the fifth round.
Moreover, Klopp has received some good news in that Andy Robertson could play a role in the game, with the Scottish left-back having been out of action since mid-October. Robertson damaged his shoulder against Spain to such an extent that it required surgery.
Dominik Szoboszlai is also back in training after suffering from a hamstring issue over the past couple of weeks. The returns of both will be a huge boost to Klopp, even if both are perhaps unlikely to play from the start and be eased back into action.
“Robbo is physically ready and I think it was good to have him in the matchday squad, and he’s completely in the normal team training schedule,” said Klopp in his pre-game press conference. “Like Dom [Szoboszlai] from tomorrow on. He had yesterday a session, today I think he has a day off as well and then from tomorrow on he is in completely normal. That means he is obviously ready for minutes.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold is also on the way back from injury, but the Norwich game might be too soon for the right-back. “With Trent, is it already Norwich or is it the game after? We have to see,” added Klopp. “He was not in team training, not even parts of team training yet, so if he can be in tomorrow then I have to make a decision there.”
Alexander-Arnold has since been spotted in team training and he could play a part. Meanwhile, the usual list of long-term absentees remains the same for Klopp, while Mohamed Salah has returned to Merseyside following his injury for Egypt at AFCON for treatment
Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Caoimhín Kelleher, Adrian.
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Owen Beck, Andy Robertson.
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai.
Forwards:Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota.
Players who are injured: Thiago Alcântara, Stefan Bajčetić, Kostas Tsimikas, Joël Matip, Ben Doak.
Players who are unavailable: Mohamed Salah (international duty and also injured) and Wataru Endō (international duty).
