Liverpool could welcome France defender Ibrahima Konate back into the starting lineup for Friday's Premier League clash with Leicester City at Anfield.

The centre-back has now returned to training with the Reds following the World Cup final, missing out on the Reds' 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day in the process.

With Jurgen Klopp working around a hectic festive schedule, Konate could be one of a couple of alterations for the hosts, who are still without a hefty chunk of players due to injury.

None of James Milner, Curtis Jones, Roberto Firmino, Arthur, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz should be available here, but Liverpool will soon welcome Cody Gakpo to Merseyside after winning the intense battle for the PSV Eindhoven attacker's signature.

Joel Matip may be sacrificed if Konate is preferred alongside Virgil van Dijk in front of Alisson Becker, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson - the new record-holder in the Premier League defender's assists category with 54 - should both hold their spots.

Thiago Alcantara came off relatively early at Villa Park and should therefore be fine to keep his spot in the engine room alongside Fabinho, but Harvey Elliott could successfully push to displace Jordan Henderson.

Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez are in no danger of dropping out of the attack, but surprise starter Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could find his position under threat from Fabio Carvalho.

Liverpool possible starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Elliott; Salah, Nunez, Carvalho

Written by
Ben Knapton