Liverpool handed massive fitness boost before Sheffield clash
By Roy Skillen
It’s definitely been a tough few weeks for Liverpool fans.
It all started with the news that a serious-looking shoulder problem was set to keep Alisson Becker out of the team for several weeks.
This was quickly followed by a 7-2 hiding at the hands of Aston Villa and a war-torn Merseyside Derby that saw a last-minute winner wrongly ruled out for offside by VAR and a season-ending injury for talisman Virgil Van Dijk.
Reds fans all over the world were suddenly wondering whether we would be able to cope without the big Dutchman leading the backline. With many even questioning the tactics of the king himself, Jurgen Klopp.
But a week can be a long time in football and if the game in Amsterdam is anything to go by then it seems our luck could be about to turn.
The Reds battled their way to a 1-0 over Ajax in the opening fixture of the Champions League thanks to an own goal from Nicolas Tagliafico and solid defensive performances from the much maligned Joe Gomez and Van Dijk stand-in Fabinho.
However, it seems that the good news will continue for Liverpool after coming away from our confidence boosting European trip with Jurgen Klopp today confirming that only Virgil Van Dijk, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Kostas Tsimikas will definitely miss the upcoming game against Sheffield Utd.
"“So, let me say it like this with the others, apart from Ox and Virg, obviously, and maybe Kostas, who gets closer and closer but is not at all in contention for this game or the next one,” said Klopp in his recent press conference.“All the others, we have to see day by day pretty much. It’s a lot of conversations with the medical department – for who it makes sense, for who it is too early and all these kinds of things.”"
The news means that Alisson Becker will be back in contention almost three weeks ahead of schedule while Joel Matip, Thiago, and Naby Keita may also be ready for a return after missing the trip to Ajax.
dark. Next. No Jota or Gomez but Keita is back! Liverpool lineup vs Sheffield United
Personally, I don’t think they will be risked for the Sheffield game but it is great news that all of them will be fit and firing as we look to some massive games in the coming weeks.