Liverpool will have Darwin Nunez back for their match against Manchester City, but they will be without Luis Diaz, who has been out of action since October due to injury.
Diaz suffered a setback in his recovery but returned to first-team training this week. Although there was hope that he might play at the Etihad Stadium, Klopp confirmed that the game has come too soon for him.
On the other hand, Nunez, who missed Uruguay’s friendlies against Japan and South Korea during the international break, is fit and ready to play on Saturday.
Klopp described Diaz’s progress as “really promising” and said that the Colombian forward had returned to full training with the squad.
However, given the long injury lay-off, the manager won’t rush Diaz back for this weekend’s clash against Manchester City.
Klopp believes that Diaz will make a return to action in the coming weeks and may be ready to play against Arsenal or Leeds. In Klopp’s words,
“Luis back in small parts of team training after a long time out,
[It’s] fantastic to have him back but he won’t train with us today. This week was a first step. Next week I think we will increase it and then he’s ready.”
In addition to Diaz, Liverpool also has injury concerns with Naby Keita, who picked up a fresh muscle injury during the recent international break.
Klopp said that they will have to wait to see how long it takes for Keita to recover. Thiago is also in a good way, but he has not been part of team training yet. Klopp believes that he will probably be part of next week’s team training.
Liverpool’s opponents, Manchester City, also have an injury worry up front with Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker was unavailable for both of Norway’s Euro 2024 qualifiers, and he faces a race against time to feature this weekend.
Despite the injury concerns, Liverpool will be hoping to secure a win against Manchester City in a match that will prove pivotal in both the title and top-four races.
The Reds are seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, and they need as many players fit and firing as possible now, with the City clash followed by games against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Liverpool have the worst injury record of any Premier League team, which makes it even more important for them to stay healthy and fit for the remaining fixtures.
Passionate about the beautiful game and dedicated to Liverpool FC, where “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is not just a slogan, but a way of life. I live and breathe football, from the roar of the Anfield crowd to the tactical intricacies of the sport.
My expertise lies in dissecting the transfer market, tracking player movements, and uncovering the hidden gems destined for greatness. Whether it’s discussing potential signings, analyzing match strategies, or celebrating the brilliance of players, I’m always ready for a football conversation.
