Liverpool will return to Premier League action for the first time in almost a month when they face Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Reds' last outing saw them draw with Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park and postponements since mean they are eight points off pacesetters Arsenal. The Liverpool squad were back at Kirby preparing for their next outing but Jurgen Klopp has been forced to defend the qualities of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The academy graduate was selected by England, but then snubbed by Gareth Southgate, which has reignite the debate about Alexander-Arnold's qualities defensively.
That is among the latest news line coming out of Anfield.
Klopp's TAA defence
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has dismissed criticism that Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t a good defender and claimed the “world-class player” will always be in his team.
The Reds right-back suffered yet another England snub, with Gareth Southgate opting to not give him a minute in the most recent batch of fixtures. Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute vs Italy, before missing out altogether against Germany.
It has left the 22-year-old sweating over his World Cup place with Southgate preferring a number of options instead of him. Following his disappointment with the national side, the defender is back with his club and back with a manager who knows how to get the best out of him.
Alexander-Arnold is primed to go straight back in the Liverpool line-up this weekend as they take on Brighton at Anfield. And while Klopp suggested the perception around his player was wrong, he did admit they were working to get his levels of consistency even higher.
Reds without four stars
Klopp has confirmed that four of his Liverpool squad will be missing for the weekend's visit of Brighton, but elsewhere the Reds' injury issues are lessening.
The Seagulls come to Anfield for Liverpool's first Premier League game in four weeks, with matches at home to Wolves and away to Chelsea postponed following the death of the Queen.
Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all sidelined before the international break, and all four remain out of action for the visit of new boss Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton side.
Arthur backed for involvement
Klopp has been told that Arthur Melo can finally be called upon by Liverpool after a slow start to his Anfield career.
The midfielder signed for the Reds on deadline day on a season-long loan from Juventus, with the Merseyside outfit having been struck down with an injury crisis in the centre of the park.
Instead of alleviating those concerns, he added to Klopp’s significant headache. The 26-year-old arrived on Merseyside having missed large swathes of pre-season and has only played 13 minutes for the Liverpool senior side - those coming in the 4-1 thumping at the hands of Italian giants Napoli in the Champions League.
However, in an encouraging update, Arthur’s agent has claimed that the midfielder is fully ready to be incorporated into Klopp’s plans at Anfield.
