Jurgen Klopp has handed Liverpool a double injury boost as the Reds boss confirms that Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold are both in with a “chance” of making their comebacks from injury in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with Norwich City.
Szoboszlai has been absent from recent matches due to a hamstring injury sustained during Liverpool’s 4-2 Premier League victory against Newcastle United on New Year’s Day.
On the other hand, Alexander-Arnold played a significant part in Liverpool’s 2-0 triumph over Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup. However, it was disclosed that the right-back had hyperextended his knee during the Emirates clash, leading to his sidelining for a few weeks.
In Wednesday’s 1-1 EFL Cup semi-final second-leg draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, both players were absent. Despite this, Klopp’s team secured a spot in the final against Chelsea with a 3-2 aggregate victory. Notably, Andrew Robertson made a return to the bench in West London, marking his first appearance in the matchday squad since dislocating his shoulder while playing for Scotland in October.
Klopp shared updates on the trio during Thursday’s pre-game press conference. While expressing confidence in Robertson and Szoboszlai being ready for minutes, he acknowledged the need for a late decision regarding Alexander-Arnold. However, Klopp has not completely ruled out his vice-captain from the upcoming match against Norwich.
“There’s a chance for all of them but we will really have to see. It’s touch and go,” Klopp said. “Robbo is physically ready and I think it was good to have him in the matchday squad, and he’s completely in the normal team training schedule.
“Like Dom from tomorrow on. He had yesterday a session, today I think he has a day off as well and then from tomorrow on he is in completely normal. That means he is obviously ready for minutes.
“With Trent, is it already Norwich or is it the game after? We have to see. He was not in team training, not even parts of team training yet, so if he can be in tomorrow then I have to make a decision there. That’s it pretty much with these boys. So then we will see. It would be absolutely very helpful if they all could be involved, but we have to see.”
While Robertson, Szoboszlai, and Alexander-Arnold are nearing their return to the first team, Liverpool still contend with several long-term absentees in the treatment room. Among them are Joel Matip, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak, Thiago Alcantara, and Kostas Tsimikas.
Both Matip and Doak are confronting months of recovery due to their respective knee problems. However, there is optimism surrounding Thiago’s hip issue and Bajcetic’s calf injury, with indications suggesting they could resume first-team training sometime in February.
Furthermore, Klopp has confirmed the full fitness of Tsimikas following his collarbone fracture against Arsenal in December. Despite this positive update, the Greek international remains sidelined as he awaits the complete healing of his bone.
“I hope that Thiago [Alcantara] and Stefan [Bajcetic] will be back as well rather sooner than later, that would be cool,” Klopp added. “Kosti [Kostas Tsimikas] is close. Kosti is actually fit, Kosti just has to wait now for the green light because the bone healing takes much longer, but the plate is doing the job in the moment.
“Now we have to figure out when is one taking enough over, let me say it like that. And then he’s in training as well. He was not out that long, like Trent was not, like Dom was not.”
The Reds will host the Canaries in Merseyside, but Wataru Endo (Asian Cup) and Mohamed Salah, who left the Africa Cup of Nations for treatment on a muscle injury, won’t be available. However, Salah could return for the knockout rounds if he recovers quickly.
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