Cardiff City v Liverpool: Team news
Liverpool hope to be at full strength for Sunday afternoon's Premier League meeting with Cardiff City, with Dejan Lovren back in contention.
The Reds came through the midweek Champions League win at FC Porto, which Lovren missed due to illness, without sustaining any fresh injuries.
“Always after games a few players have slight, little problems but nothing really serious – so it should be OK, [they] should all be in,” said Jürgen Klopp at his pre-match press conference.
“Dejan was ill so he should be available again, we will see that.”
In addition to the 4-1 victory that wrapped up a 6-1 aggregate result against Porto, the Reds were buoyed by the return to action of Joe Gomez.
The No.12 played 24 minutes at Estadio do Dragao in his first senior appearance since suffering a lower leg fracture at Burnley in early December.
Asked if Gomez is in line for a start this weekend, Klopp replied: “We will see; we have a lot of players with a lot of rhythm, which is good, but it’s good to have him. It’s very important.
“It’s the same for Ox, it’s not about being ready and you come in immediately, because as long as the other players show no drop in form in training, we came [to this point] like this.
“But it’s very good to have them back and have them in contention.”
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock, meanwhile, doesn’t expect midfielder Harry Arter to recover from a calf injury in time to play against the Reds.
“I wouldn’t have thought so. He’s touch and go for Fulham, that’s what the physio told me,” said the Bluebirds boss, who also told the media that Aron Gunnarsson has suffered with a back spasm this week.
Callum Paterson (ankle), who scored Cardiff’s goal in their 4-1 defeat at Anfield in October, and Sol Bamba (knee) are long-term absentees.
On the test awaiting his side on Sunday, Warnock stated: “We realise the challenge but it’s an amazing game. Everyone’s talking about it so the atmosphere will be fabulous.
“We’ll just have to play the best we can and put in a good performance against one of the best sides in the world at the moment.”
Cardiff defender Lee Peltier played four games for Liverpool during the 2006-07 season, all in cup competitions.
Last time out
Brighton and Hove Albion 0-2 Cardiff City (April 16): Etheridge, Peltier, Morrison, Manga, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Camarasa, Mendez-Laing, Hoilett, Niasse.
FC Porto 1-4 Liverpool (April 17): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Milner, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Origi.