There are five things that are expected from the Reds after the international window/winter break as Liverpool are nearing time to return.
Liverpool will return to action on Sunday, It will have been 14 days from the last time the Reds kicked a football. The Reds will take on against the Championship side Cardiff City FC for FA Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield.
After sailing smoothly through the month of January, as many predicted Liverpool to crumble without their Reds African trio and with injury absentees.
Klopp’s resilient side made sure they are still on the track of all four competitions with fewer hiccups.
The return of Harvey Eliott to Liverpool first team
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The teenager was sensational at the start of the season. But his stupendous form and progress came to a halt after fracture-dislocation of his ankle.
The horrific injury was caused accidentally by Leeds’ Pascal Strujik in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Elland Road. Since then Eliott was a big miss for the Reds and especially in the Reds midfield.
But after missing out five months with injury the 18 years old is set to make his comeback when Liverpool meets Cardiff City on Sunday.
It is anticipated that he will certainly be receiving a standing ovation on what looks like to be an appearance from the bench.
The debut of Luis Diaz
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Liverpool captured the signing of Luis Diaz from Porto for €50 million, fending off competition from Tottenham in the process.
But it is expected that spectators will have to wait for the Leicester game to get a glimpse of the Colombian. Klopp has already made it clear that he is not willing to throw Diaz straight into his team anyway.
The German claims:
If we was immediately at his best then it would be really strange,
He needs time to adapt to it but that doesn’t mean I speak about four or five months, I haven’t even seen him yet in training so maybe we should wait a little bit!
I’m really happy with the signing.
When Foxes visit Anfield for the Premier League game, should be an ideal time for Diaz to come off the bench to make his Liverpool debut. The moment all Liverpool fans are eagerly waiting for.
Champions League action
The last time Liverpool played their Champions League game was back on December 7 against AC Milan at San Siro. And with Champions League Round of 16 awaiting the Reds will again make a trip to San Siro.
But this time to face Serie A leaders Inter Milan for the first leg tie. This will be the first meeting between both sides since 2008.
A healthy squad
Liverpool’s current first-team squad looks almost 100% injury-free. Both Thiago and Eliott have returned to training, only forward Divock Origi remains the solitary name on the injury list.
And with the addition of Luis Diaz adds further strength to Liverpool’s arsenal.
Moreover, the Anfield faithful are hoping both Sadio Mane and Mo Salah to return without any injury scare. Both the African superstars are up against each other for the big final on Sunday of the AFCON competition.
And the EFL Cup final
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After beating Arsenal in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup competition, Liverpool marked the first shot at silverware this season and the first final since 2019.
Moreover, it’s the first EFL Cup final for the Reds since 2016, it’s been too long.
In the past years, it’s been seen Liverpool haven’t put domestic Cup competitions in their top priority. As Klopp’s men were seen more focused on the European stage and in the Premier League.
But this time around, Liverpool in the final, they have a real chance of lifting the showpiece at Wembley to become the record winner for the 9th time.
