Having returned to winning ways by beating Rangers 2-0 on Tuesday night, Liverpool are back in Premier League action on Sunday as they travel to league-leaders Arsenal.
Already 11 points behind the Gunners, the Reds really need to pick up maximum points at the Emirates to resurrect their flailing domestic fortunes after drawing 3-3 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was back in front of the media on Friday morning to preview his side’s trip to the capital as he offered mixed news in his latest injury update, with one star player in training but another sidelined as Arthur Melo ’s injury woes continue.
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp makes 'unpredictable' Liverpool formation admission and issues Darwin Nunez warning
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has just dropped a major Arsenal selection hint for Liverpool
Meanwhile, the German kept his cards close to his chest when reflecting on the Reds’ formation change against Rangers and the possibility of whether the 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 was here to stay.
With a Man City transfer hint, Liverpool-linked Arsenal players and the fortunes of two of his own forwards on the agenda, here’s what we learned at the AXA Training Centre…
Arthur Melo answers provided
While Liverpool’s injury list might gradually be shrinking, there was a new name added to their list of absentees on Friday as Klopp confirmed why Arthur Melo was missing against Rangers.
With two goalkeepers and Stefan Bajcetic both named on the bench on Tuesday, eyebrows were raised at the absence of the Brazilian, who has still only played 13 minutes for the Reds since his deadline day move from Juventus. After all, he had been pictured in training the day before.
Rather than having dropped out of favour, Klopp confirmed that Arthur had picked up a muscle injury in Liverpool’s Monday session with it currently unclear how long the midfielder will be absent for.
“We have a new injury. Arthur Melo in the last session before the Rangers game,” Klopp revealed. “Normal situation, he injured a muscle. We have to wait for further assessment to know how long it will be. He is out.”
Midfielder back in full training as trio near returns
While Arthur might now be sidelined, Liverpool are close to welcoming Curtis Jones back after the England Under-21s international returned to full training. The midfielder hasn’t featured since a last-minute substitute appearance against Man City in the Community Shield, and while he returned on the bench against Newcastle United, he later suffered a setback in training.
And while the midfielder is not yet to fit to play, he is close to a return with Andy Robertson, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain not too far behind.
"Curtis Jones was in training yesterday. Looked good," Klopp told reporters. "But that's not the first session. He's probably closest. Nothing new, in a good way.
"Naby and Ox still a little bit away. Robbo is running a lot. Looks like he is close. Probably Curtis now the closest, then Robbo then the other two step by step."
Man City transfer hint
Has Klopp just hinted that Liverpool have previously been interested in signing a player from Man City, only to be told where to go?
Pep Guardiola’s side weren’t against selling to rival ‘big six’ clubs this summer as Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko joined Arsenal, while Raheem Sterling was sold to Chelsea. Meanwhile, talks were also held regarding a potential return to Stamford Bridge for Nathan Ake.
And when speaking about Jesus’ transfer, Klopp seemed to suggest that City would not have been willing to sell the forward to Liverpool if they had wanted him, in contrast to Arsenal.
“I don’t know Gabriel on a personal basis but I always liked him as a player,” he told reporters. “I don’t think City...actually I know City... wouldn’t have sold him to every club but Arsenal, the distance was big enough. Geographically! They did it.”
Whether this translates to Liverpool ever actually making enquiries for a Man City star, for now such questions will go unanswered.
Future transfers?
While Man City might not be willing to sell any players to their fiercest title-rivals, Liverpool might have more luck shopping at Arsenal in future. After all, Klopp has publicly confirmed his admiration for so many of their players in the past.
With the Reds continually linked with the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, the Liverpool boss fuelled such speculation further by singing their praises once again.
“I think Martinelli, very early I was excited about him and he’s become exactly the player I expected he would be,” he said. “Martin Odegaard, I spoke to him when he was 15 from Norway when the whole world wanted him and he decided on Real Madrid.
“I remember it like it was yesterday, we sat on a table with his dad and we were all so excited. And then there were a few difficult years but that is normal when you were that much in the spotlight.
“He’s become the player everybody expected him to become at that time. (And) Saka, I think from the first day since he’s been playing he’s been incredible.”
Firmino hint
Roberto Firmino remains out of contract at Liverpool next summer with it currently unclear if the Brazilian will be offered a new deal. While the 31-year-old is the Reds’ leading league scorer this season with five goals, he arguably remains behind Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez in the pecking order for that central attacking berth.
Despite scoring twice against Brighton last weekend, it was Firmino who made way for Liverpool’s new-look front four against Rangers. But despite dropping the Brazilian, Klopp reiterated his importance to the club.
“And then I take him out of the line-up!” he joked. “Bobby, the goals he scored against Brighton were absolutely outstanding. For the game, after the weekend we thought it didn’t make sense to play like this and we play a lot of games.
“Bobby is an incredibly important player to me and to us especially. I’m happy with his goalscoring record so far. Hopefully he can put in a few more.”
Firmino does historically love a goal against Arsenal, boasting nine goals and three assists from 13 Premier League appearances. Could a recall be on the cards? His future might remain uncertain but, for now at least, he remains a trusted Liverpool lieutenant.
Darwin Nunez warning
Premier League defences, beware. Darwin Nunez is on the verge of a scoring spree according to his manager! The Uruguayan endured another frustrating night in front of goal in an otherwise encouraging performance against Rangers as he failed to score despite registering six shots on goal.
As a result, he remains stuck on two goals for Liverpool since his £64m summer move from Benfica, with both coming in his opening two games against Man City and Fulham. Yet Klopp isn’t concerned by his recent drought.
Encouraged by the chances that continue to fall the striker’s way, he sent a warning to the Reds’ rivals about what to expect from Nunez in the near-future.
“One of the things he showed so far in all the games he played is he brings himself, quite frequently, into good finishing positions which is actually the most important thing for a striker,” Klopp said. “Everybody should be very optimistic about what’s coming from him in the future.”
With Arsenal away and Man City at home Liverpool’s next two Premier League outings, there wouldn’t be a better time for Nunez to find his feet in front of goal.
And one thing we didn’t learn…
Sorry guys, we’re still none the wiser as to what formation Liverpool will play against Arsenal on Sunday!
4-3-3 hasn’t worked for them so far this season, but the 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 hybrid was effective against Rangers. Such a system would be going like-for-like against the Gunners, but while Klopp insisted he knows what to expect from Arteta’s side on Sunday, he stressed the need for his own team to remain unpredictable.
“There is no system in the world without a weakness,” he said. “It’s all about how we perform, what we did and the intensity we did it with. That changes everything…No system we can rely on and say, ‘now this is perfect’
“We know how to play against other teams. You see how they play usually. That’s the problem with us, most of the time teams change system.
“Arsenal will not do that. They believe in what they are doing. 100% and rightly so so we know how to prepare for Arsenal, but in the end it’s how we execute it.
“It’s much more important that we become unpredictable again. We need different systems for that as well.
“It’s not the only system we can play. There are obviously different systems available for us and we have to choose what is the best for the next opponent or the best for us in the moment. We have to be more unpredictable, definitely.”
Well if we have no idea which formation Liverpool will line up in against Arsenal, hopefully Mikel Arteta is equally baffled! At the very least, Klopp has certainly delivered that desired unpredictability.
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