Jurgen Klopp is ready to welcome back Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold for the restart of the Premier League season – but Liverpool are sweating on the fitness of James Milner.
Both Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold were absent as the Reds’ reign as Carabao Cup holders ended with a 3-2 fourth round defeat at Manchester City on Thursday evening.
Van Dijk was back training on Wednesday after returning from World Cup duty with Holland while Alexander-Arnold has been among a number of Liverpool players affected by illness.
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The Reds – who resume their top-flight campaign with a trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day – were also without Roberto Firmino, who suffered a calf problem earlier in the week, while Milner hobbled off before half-time with a suspected hamstring issue.
And Klopp said of the midfielder: “He felt something. We still hope it’s not an injury but we will see. He felt something and after 30 years in the business he said he didn’t think it’s a lot, but we will see.
“Bobby in the last session (before the City game) felt something and we had other problems with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to start and then he got ill two days ago and this morning he was fine.
“We thought Trent would available but then he got ill. Virgil trained today and yesterday completely normal and should be ready for Monday. But we have to see who gets the virus until then.”
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