The expected 4-3-3 line-up with Matip’s pushing Henderson back into midfield

Jurgen Klopp took the chance to examine Liverpool’s aspirations after the goalless draw with Manchester United on Sunday, insisting his facet’s present focus is on qualifying for the Champions League.

Hardly combating speak, however a practical reflection of a run which has seen the Reds fail to win a Premier League match since Christmas.

The stalemate towards United adopted attracts with West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle and a defeat to Southampton.

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If Klopp’s confidence is starting to falter and it gained’t have been aided by an ongoing injury crisis which has seen midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson utilised at centre-back.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are nonetheless a good distance off returning, however Liverpool can at the least count on to welcome Joel Matip again as they put together to face Burnley at house on Thursday evening.

The defender suffered an adductor injury in the 1-1 draw with West Brom on 27 December and has missed 4 video games in all competitions.

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Klopp has confirmed Matip is again in coaching and he’ll endure a health take a look at to substantiate his inclusion within the squad towards Sean Dyche’s Clarets.

“So, at first, Joel is in full coaching,” Klopp stated. “Now we’ve got to decide and we are going to see how that might be till tomorrow. Yesterday he educated fully regular.”

Matip enjoying alongside Fabinho will permit Henderson to maneuver again into central midfield alongside an anticipated line-up of Thiago, who will play at Anfield for simply the second time, and Georginio Wijnaldum.

On paper, Liverpool’s major issues are in defence. But three consecutive blanks within the league have additionally shone a lightweight on their misfiring assault.

Only a month on from beating Crystal Palace 7-0, Sadio Mane is the one Liverpool participant to attain within the competitors since then, with Mo Salah solely discovering the again of the online within the victory over Aston Villa’s children within the FA Cup.

Diogo Jota’s absence could also be a contributing issue, however the Portuguese shouldn’t be anticipated to return for “just a few weeks”. “Diogo continues to be just a few weeks away, I don’t know precisely how lengthy but it surely is not going to be within the subsequent one or two weeks,” Klopp added. “He wants time, the harm wants time.”

Van Dijk was seen coaching on grass with a ball earlier this week in one of the vital promising solutions but that he could play once more this season – so the harm disaster is easing, however it’s a good distance from being over.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Henderson, Thiago, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane

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