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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Jurgen Klopp weighs up Ibrahima Konate decision as Thiago Alcantara's Liverpool return nears

It's a fourth competition in as many games for Jurgen Klopp as he muses over his next Liverpool team selection.

After the Carabao Cup final was followed by FA Cup and Premier League victories at Anfield against Norwich and West Ham last week, a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League is in sight.

Before that, though, the Reds must negotiate the threat of Serie A champions Inter as the Italians make their first visit to Anfield since 2008.

A 2-0 lead from the first leg in the San Siro puts Klopp's men in a great position, but the abolishing of the away-goal rule means it is not as strong as previous years.

Klopp made eight changes in total from the side that won the FA Cup game on Wednesday against Norwich, but it is not expected that the German will be making as many on Tuesday night.

In defence, the key issue revolves around Joel Matip's illness and whether Klopp keeps faith with Ibrahima Konate, who has won all 18 of his Liverpool games.

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Konate looks settled and assured at the back next to the peerless Virgil van Dijk, and his adaptation to the top level of English football has been seamless

At just 22, the former RB Leipzig defender is the future of Liverpool's defence, but Matip has enjoyed a stellar campaign himself and could be in contention if he has recovered from an illness that Klopp moved to stress was not COVID-19 on Friday.

Naby Keita enjoyed a positive return to the side on Saturday as the Reds beat West Ham 1-0 and the Guinea international made a match-winning contribution in the second half to deny Michail Antonio.

Fabinho and Jordan Henderson are expected to start against Simone Inzaghi's men to provide a good blend of energy and solidity to the engine room ranks.

Thiago Alcantara may yet be an option, however, with Klopp due to give an update on the Spaniard's fitness in his Monday press conference from Anfield.

Harvey Elliott started the away leg and is vying for another against the Nerazzurri, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones and James Milner are all fit and ready for selection.

So Klopp has plenty of options to choose from where his midfield is concerned.

Up top, it's a case of four needing to go into three with Roberto Firmino unlikely to be starting given his current injury and the fact he has, to coin a Kloppism, "no rhythm."

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"I think the plan is that he trains on Sunday for the first time," Klopp said on Friday of the Brazilian. "That sounds then doable for Tuesday."

Diogo Jota was a second-half substitute on Saturday as his return from the ankle injury picked up in the first leg goes on.

Klopp has Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi available to him also, but Luis Diaz may yet keep his place after another eye-catching performance in the victory over David Moyes' Hammers.

The Colombian has probably played more football than he might have imagined in his first month at Anfield, with his 519 minutes only 20 less than Origi's total for the entire campaign.

With Jota still looking slightly off the pace after his ankle problem, though, Diaz may get the nod for Inter's arrival as Firmino is, like the first leg in Italy, kept in reserve if needed.

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