Liverpool will be hoping to have Luis Diaz back for Saturday's heavyweight clash against Manchester City.
The two sides have endured differing campaigns, but there is a lot on the line for both in the form of title hopes and top four ambitions. Diaz has missed a large bulk of the campaign but is edging closer to full fitness in what is a timely boost for Jurgen Klopp.
The German has just got his players back from international duty and has a short turnaround before their trip to the Etihad. Liverpool were able to get the better of City earlier in the season and a repeat would be welcome, although they've struggled on the blue half of Manchester recently.
Here's the latest from Anfield.
Diaz's determination leaves its mark
Diaz has been missing since October with a knee issue depriving him of a huge part of his season.
But his delay in getting back on the field has certainly not been down to a lack of trying, with reports from the club's training ground stating how Diaz has left observers in awe at his determination to return to full fitness.
Diaz, 26, has been doing his rehabilitation away from the rest of the squad, but has done everything in his powers to return as quickly as possible, as evidenced by his conduct around the club's Kirkby HQ.
The Liverpool Echo has reported that the forward has even been coming in to train on his scheduled days off since the beginning of the year, while in the latest international break, he trained with the academy in a bid to try and regain some match sharpness.
Van Dijk ready for "war"
Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake will put aside their friendship this weekend when their on opposing sides.
The two Dutchmen have become close mates as well as neighbours during the time they have spent living in the Cheshire countryside. But they will have each other in their sights when Ake’s Manchester City face Van Dijk’s Liverpool at the Etihad this Saturday lunchtime.
Van Dijk has been heavily criticised for his performance in Netherlands’ 4-0 thrashing by France before Ake score twice as Ronald Koeman’s side bounced back by beating Gibraltar 3-0.
The Liverpool man knows that their recent combination has to be put to one side on Saturday with the Reds chasing the top four. He said: “When the whistle blows, it's battle and a war on the pitch. After that, we pick up the friendship again and there are more important things in life than football.”
Haaland still absent for City
City still face a nervous wait with Erling Haaland not spotted in training ahead of this weekend's match against the Merseysiders.
The Premier League's top scorer sat out Norway's first two Euro 2024 qualifiers through injury, leaving him a doubt to return in time for Saturday's game. The 22-year-old played just over an hour of City's last game, an FA Cup quarter-final victory over Burnley, before leaving the field with a groin problem.
City are gearing up for the title run-in, but may have to begin that process without their star man. Haaland was nowhere to be seen in Wednesday's or Thursday's session, with the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at the Etihad drawing ever closer.
