Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Thiago Alcantara could be involved in Sunday's Premier League clash with Arsenal, but Luis Diaz is unlikely to be available.
Thiago - who has been plagued by injuries since arriving at Anfield - has been forced to sit out the Reds' last 10 Premier League matches with a hip problem.
The ex-Bayern Munich man sustained the injury prior to February's Merseyside derby win over Everton, but he was pictured in good spirits in full training on Thursday afternoon.
Thiago's history of injuries means that Klopp may be averse to risking him from the first whistle against Arsenal, but the Reds boss has affirmed that the 31-year-old is in with a chance of making his comeback on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk is also in line for an immediate return, having missed Tuesday's draw with Chelsea through illness, but the same cannot be said for Diaz.
© Reuters
The Colombian attacker has not played since October's loss to Arsenal at the Emirates, having sustained a severe knee problem and subsequent setback during the World Cup break.
Diaz has been building up his fitness in training for the past couple of weeks, and while Klopp has not ruled out the prospect of the 25-year-old featuring against the Gunners, the trip to Leeds United on April 17 is a more likely comeback date.
"Virgil, completely normal, was back in training. Luis and Thiago training completely normal," Klopp told reporters at his pre-game press conference.
"The plan with Luis is that he will be available 100 per cent for Leeds. Again, it looks good, everything is fine, but it was a long, long injury and so we have to be careful. We will probably not involve him for Sunday.
"Thiago looks slightly different. He was not out that long, trained now three, four times with the team and might be available. But we have to check how he feels today."
© Reuters
Diaz is therefore set to be one of four absentees for the visit of Arsenal, as Stefan Bajcetic (adductor), Naby Keita (muscle) and Calvin Ramsay (knee) also watch on from the sidelines.
Harvey Elliott was also absent from the squad to face Chelsea in midweek, but the 20-year-old is not believed to be carrying an injury, with Klopp leaving him out as a precaution to manage his workload.
The 20-year-old's expected return could force Thiago to accept a substitute role for his comeback game, although Van Dijk should be fit enough to come straight back in for Joel Matip.
None of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Arthur or Joe Gomez were seen in training on Thursday, and Klopp did not offer an update on the quartet in his pre-game press conference, although there is nothing to suggest that they will not be involved against Mikel Arteta's side.
Liverpool welcome Arsenal to Anfield sitting eighth in the Premier League table - seven places and 29 points worse off than the league leaders - but they are unbeaten in nine successive Premier League home games against the Gunners since a 2-0 loss in September 2012.
No Data Analysis info
