Fitness update: Thiago, Alexander-Arnold, Firmino and Williams
Thiago Alcantara will be sidelined for both of Liverpool's matches this week as a result of the calf injury he sustained at the weekend.
The midfielder had to be taken off in the second half of Saturday’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield and though the club is awaiting further scan results, Thiago is ruled out of the Carabao Cup tie at Norwich City and subsequent league clash with Brentford.
“Thiago, how the gaffer said after the game, it was a calf injury. I can’t say now how long it will take but definitely not tomorrow and not at the weekend,” assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders told Liverpoolfc.com.
“Let’s get the scan results back and we have a proper diagnosis. A shame as well because he was taking the game by the hand, he was a proper playmaker in my opinion. A shame that we miss him.
“In one week we lose two really influential midfielders, that’s the bad thing.”
Roberto Firmino is set to resume team training this week having missed the last three games with a hamstring issue, but will not be involved on Tuesday night at Norwich.
The third-round tie also comes too soon for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was absent for the victory against Palace due to illness, and Neco Williams.
“Let’s start with Trent. Our game basically started at 12 o’clock against Palace; he took responsibility to speak with the doctor,” said Lijnders.
“It was not easy because these guys – it says a lot about our group anyway – they want to play everything, [even] if they feel a bit shaky or ill. But he took the responsibility.
“With speaking about Trent, I have to speak about Millie immediately – it started with a James Milner lecture and it ended up he dominated the complete right flank. We wanted to solve the situation with Trent with experience but we got much more.
“So, really proud and really happy that we have these players who can fill in, in each moment in time, and do the things he did.
“That’s Trent, there are no symptoms – no COVID symptoms. We test regardless. He should be fine in a few days but Norwich comes too early.
“Then we have Bobby, who will do parts of team training but also not ready. But progressing well. And Neco is progressing well as well. [For him] tomorrow also comes too early.”
Lijnders also confirmed Caoimhin Kelleher is set to be named in goal for the Reds versus the Canaries.
“Ali didn’t play one time in the League Cup I think, so I think it’s quite clear Caoimhin will start tomorrow,” added the Dutchman.