Liverpool are currently gearing up for the all important Premier League derby fixture against Manchester United on Monday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will be even more desperate for a win at Old Trafford after drawing their opening two matches of the season against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Liverpool are already four points adrift of defending champions Manchester City in the Premier League and cannot afford any more slip-ups.
Monday’s 1-1 draw against Palace at Anfield came amid a mini injury crisis for Klopp, which was then made worse by Darwin Nunez’s red card for a headbutt on Joachim Andersen. Thankfully, they have been given a full week to prepare for United, who are bottom of the league after two straight defeats. Here are five things Mirror Football noticed from the Reds’ training session on Thursday.
Nunez involved
First things first. Nunez is not exactly a fan favourite at the moment after he lost his head against Palace. The 23-year-old striker has apologised for his behaviour and has promised to learn from his mistakes. He will now miss the next three games, against United, Bournemouth and Newcastle, before returning for the Merseyside derby on September 3.
That gives him a lot of time to get super fit – and that’s exactly what the Uruguayan appears to be focusing on. He was involved in Klopp’s training session at Kirkby on Thursday, taking part as normal, despite being unavailable.
Firmino working his way back
Klopp was honest pre-match against Palace, saying Nunez was starting because he had nobody else. Having started the opening game at Craven Cottage, Firmino missed Monday’s match with an unspecified problem.
Klopp later said he “might be back [for the next game], we will see”, before adding “Bobby was not enough in the end but will be fine probably from Wednesday on.” That timeline appears to be on track, with Firmino involved in all aspects of training. If fit, he is nailed on to start at Old Trafford, with Nunez suspended and Diogo Jota sidelined with a thigh injury.
Keita trying to make an impact
Keita is a hot topic at Liverpool at the moment following reports that he is unhappy with his current situation on Merseyside and has therefore ended talks with Anfield chiefs over a contract extension. The midfielder, who is in the last year of his current contract, is apparently unhappy with the lack of game time. So what better time to catch Klopp’s eye for a start at Old Trafford?
With Thiago Alcantara, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones all injured, this could be Keita’s chance. He was an unused substitute against Palace and will be desperate to play his first game of the season on Monday.
Gomez in pole position
Joe Gomez was among those training at Kirkby – and it is an important juncture for the defender. He was on the bench for the Fulham game and came off the bench in the 63rd minute against Palace after Nat Phillips struggled against Wilfried Zaha. With Joel Matip out injured for around two weeks with a groin injury, Gomez will be eyeing the place next to Virgil van Dijk against United.
Opportunity knocks
Among all the familiar faces were two more unfamiliar ones. Sepp van den Berg and Jarell Quansah both trained with the first team under Klopp’s watchful eye. The two young defenders are on the fringes of things at Liverpool, but Matip’s injury means Klopp needs more back-up on the bench.
Van den Berg spent time on loan with Blackburn last season and could be loaned out again before the window closes. But for now he is training with Liverpool and occupying the bench, with things on hold while the Reds ponder selling Phillips. Academy graduate Quansah is yet to make his first-team debut for Liverpool but is tipped for big things after being involved in England’s Under-19 European Championship triumph.
