LIVERPOOL vs HUDDERSFIELD – PREMIER LEAGUE LIVE!
- Huddersfield have gone eight games without scoring against Liverpool
- Sadio Mane has scored nine goals in his past eight Premier League appearances at Anfield
- Huddersfield have lost all 10 Premier League fixtures against the established top six teams this season by an aggregate score of 30-3
- Victory would give the Reds 50 home points in a Premier League season for the first time
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Keita, Henderson, Salah, Sturridge, Mane
Huddersfield XI: Lossl, Smith, Schindler, Kongolo, Durm, Stankovic, Hogg, Bacuna, Mbenza, Mounie, Grant
‘A little muscle issue’
19:07: Jurgen Klopp has just spoken to Sky Sports ahead of tonight’s clash and confirmed Roberto Firmino’s absence.
The German tactician says ‘it’s a small muscle issue’ and didn’t think it was anything too serious. Case closed.
Team News – Liverpool
19:05: Ch-ch-ch-changes for Jurgen Klopp – and they are a nightmare for Fantasy Football players.
Daniel Sturridge makes his first Premier League start of 2019 – Roberto Firmino does not figure in the 18, as reported earlier.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, out with a knee ligament injury since April 2018, is on the bench while Dejan Lovren also returns in place of Joel Matip.
Starting XI…
19:00: And here is the official confirmation. These ITK accounts on Twitter must be breathing a sigh of relief. Roberto Firmino is absent through injury with Daniel Sturridge taking his place in attack.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Keita, Henderson, Salah, Sturridge, Mane.
Subs: Mignolet, Milner, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaqiri, Origi, Matip.
Huddersfield XI: Lossl, Smith, Schindler, Kongolo, Durm, Stankovic, Hogg, Bacuna, Mbenza, Mounie, Grant.
Subs: Coleman, Kachunga, Diakhaby, Lowe, Pritchard, Zanka, Daly.
Liverpool vs Huddersfield: Premier League table, fixture, score and updates (Image: REUTERS)
Twitter round-up
Mike: If Man City win the league over us then fair play to them. It’s been a brilliant ride and Liverpool are in a tremendous position for the future. Just happy we are playing football at the highest level.
Birdy: Man City and Liverpool will dominate for years. Chelsea about to lose their stars and Ole will buy disastrously just like he did at Cardiff.
I think you are spot-on there, Birdy. Huge rebuilding jobs for Manchester United and Chelsea to even be considered contenders.
Silver lining…
18:53: So the Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce has confirmed that Roberto Firmino WILL miss tonights clash.
“The Brazil striker reported to Melwood as usual on Friday morning but wasn’t part of the matchday squad which later assembled at the city’s Hope Street Hotel,” Pearce wrote.
However… there is some good news.
And that’s the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who returns to Liverpool’s matchday squad for the first time since 24 April 2018.
Liverpool vs Huddersfield: Premier League table, fixture, score and updates (Image: REUTERS)
Afternoon…
18:50: Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League.
Hope you stayed off Twitter today. It’s been an absolute mad house of injury news, conspiracy theories and chaotic investigation.
Why? It’s all down to Roberto Firmino…
Rumours were circulating that the Brazilian would miss tonight’s clash with a groin injury – but it somehow spawned into a season-ending injury.
Just another day on Twitter, right?
Anyway, Jurgen Klopp’s side will be looking to beat Huddersfield at Anfield and then sit back and hope Burnley can do them a favour on Sunday, unlike rivals Manchester United did on Wednesday night.
City’s one-point lead means destiny is in their hands, but they face another stern examination at Turf Moor, against a Burnley side who have won three and drawn one of their last four matches.
We’ll have that official team news shortly. Standby.
Liverpool vs Huddersfield: Premier League table, fixture, score and updates (Image: GETTY)
LIVERPOOL vs HUDDERSFIELD – TEAM NEWS
Liverpool midfielders Fabinho and Adam Lallana face late fitness tests ahead of the visit of Huddersfield.
The Brazil international sustained a head injury in Sunday’s win at Cardiff while Lallana is recovering from a muscle injury.
Centre-back Dejan Lovren is fit again after illness.
Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy is doubtful for Friday night’s game.
The Australia midfielder sustained a knock in last week’s home defeat to Watford and will be assessed, but winger Adama Diakhaby is back in contention after a hamstring injury.
Jonas Lossl will retain his place in goal as Ben Hamer is still struggling with a knock. Striker Laurent Depoitre (foot) is still unavailable.
Liverpool squad: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Keita, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Mignolet, Lovren, Moreno, Gomez, Milner, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Sturridge, Origi.
Huddersfield squad: Lossl, Durm, Kongolo, Schindler, Smith, Hogg, Bacuna, Mooy, Mbenza, Mounie, Grant, Kachunga, Lowe, Daly, Coleman, Stankovic, Hadergjonaj, Pritchard, Diakhaby.