Liverpool secured their passage into the UEFA Champions League final on Tuesday, following a 3-2 comeback victory against Villarreal in order to progress 5-2 on aggregate, where they’ll face Real Madrid on May 28.
Jurgen Klopp was able to welcome back both Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas to the side from illness last weekend, while the Reds came away from that match as well as their midweek duties unscathed, with just Roberto Firmino remaining as the only absentee.
Here is all you need to know about the current state of play at Anfield as well as the expected return date of Liverpool ’s Brazilian striker.
Firmino continues his recovery from a foot injury that he sustained following the 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals on April 16, which has kept him out of Liverpool ’s last five games in all competitions despite the fact it wasn’t thought to be too serious.
There was supposed to be a good chance that he would return to action for the Merseyside derby on April 24, with Klopp revealing two days before that it was all down to the 30-year-old as to whether he would play or not, yet his comeback failed to materialise.
Since then, he has missed the following three games, but is expected to once again face a late fitness test ahead of Saturday’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur, as he looks to play an important part in Liverpool’s title run-in with four games to go.
Can Liverpool cope with Roberto Firmino for the rest of the season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
On Monday, Klopp gave an update on Firmino’s situation ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final second leg tie away to Villarreal. He said: "I say it’s not serious, it’s painful, a little pain in the middle foot bone. He was running again today. He will travel with us but will not be in the squad yet."
With Firmino able to travel with the squad, it could suggest that the Brazilian is nearing a return and could even be ready to be included in the matchday squad for Saturday’s visit of Antonio Conte’s side at Anfield.
Klopp also mentioned that the injury is “not serious”, which is further good news for both himself and Liverpool fans, as they eagerly await his return as they come into the business end of the season, in which they continue to compete on all fronts.
However, on Friday, Klopp said: "I don't know about Bobby, but he is back in training, so we have to make a decision. He hasn't done a lot. It might be possible but it might make more sense to train through the weekend."
Thankfully for the Reds, they have an abundance of options in that area of the pitch, with January signing Luis Diaz joining Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota as the impressive forward positions at the club, although the latter is the only one out of the quartet who can really match Firmino's role.
Nonetheless, Klopp is stacked with alternatives should Firmino miss out once again, but the German would much rather have him as an option from the bench than not at all as his side desperately aim to keep on winning in order to capitalise on a slip-up from Manchester City.
