Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will still be without Luis Diaz, Thiago Alcantara, Ibrahima Konate and Calvin Ramsay on Saturday when they travel to Newcastle as they look to inflict the Magpies’ second Premier League defeat of the campaign. Eddie Howe’s side have only lost once in 22 top-flight outings this term and that defeat came at the hands of the Reds way back in September when Fabio Carvalho struck a last-gasp winner at Anfield.
Now Liverpool are plotting a similar result at St James’ Park when only victory will really do if they wish to catch the Magpies in the race for Champions League football.
Nonetheless, Klopp’s men will have to do it without injured quarter Diaz, Thiago, Konate and Ramsay, who are yet to return to full fitness.
Young right-back Ramsay has actually been forced to undergo surgery on his meniscus, meaning his season is already over.
Diaz is now back on the grass at Kirkby with Liverpool’s rehabilitation coach David Rydings, sparking optimism he is now closing in on his return to action.
READ MORE: Chelsea ‘offer Mason Mount in Joao Felix swap deal’ proposal as Atletico Madrid respond
Klopp will also be able to call upon forwards Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino again after they marked their returns in the 2-0 win over Everton.
Both attackers have endured lengthy spells on the sidelines with muscle injuries but now they are set to return to the fold for the business end of the season.
Klopp said of their involvement: “That’s massive. Bobby was eight weeks (out) which is a long time and Diogo was longer out… Hopefully it stays like this. That would be great because you need this kind of consistency.”
The German was also full of praise for the way Eddie Howe has approached business at Newcastle despite the £305million Saudi-backed takeover at the club that was completed in October 2021.
“Eddie [Howe] is doing an exceptional job,” Klopp said of Howe. “The financial possibilities they will have in the future is exceptional but so far it’s not because of that.”
Miguel Almiron was also praised by the Liverpool boss ahead of the meeting between the two sides.
“I always like Almiron and the way they are playing now suits him,” Klopp added.
Liverpool would go six points behind Newcastle with victory and they would still boast a game in hand on their top-four rivals.