Alisson to return from injury & Klopp in running for FIFA Best coach award – Liverpool FC Roundup

Liverpool are away to Fulham this weekend and we could see another returning face or two to the squad, while elsewhere there’s news on injuries and rumours.

 

Ali back between the sticks

Caoimhen did a good job – but Liverpool could be back to full strength in the goalkeeping department at the weekend.

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Alisson Becker is back in training on Friday and, assuming there are no setbacks or bad reactions, he should be back in goal against Fulham on Sunday.

Sadly, the Reds might be missing another player or two instead, though, at left-back and in attack.

“We have to see, the diagnosis [after Midtjylland] is not finally done. Kostas we have to see, Diogo we have to see – we got a knock as well. That’s it from the game, I think.”

No returns yet for a trio who are edging closer, though we did get Keita and Trent back last weekend too.

 

Klopp and Ali could be named The Best

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 6, 2020: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp celebrates after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Of course, they already are for Liverpool fans!

But that’s just the name FIFA gave their reasonably new awards: ‘The Best’ deals out gongs to the finest men and women around the game, with two from Liverpool in the running this time around.

Jurgen Klopp is up against Leeds‘ Marcelo Bielsa, for some reason, and Bayern Munich’s Hansi Flick, who is likely to scoop the award given his team won the treble last season.

On the playing side, Alisson is in line for Best goalkeeper, against Jan Oblak of Atletico and Bayern’s Manuel Neuer.

Our Brazilian won this award a year ago, while Klopp took home the coach’s award too.

 

Cottage challenge

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, February 24, 2020: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp celebrates with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-2. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Time to look toward Fulham and how the Reds can take another three points!

 

Quickfire LFC news

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, December 6, 2020: Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates after scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

  • The Reds have reduced their pressing this season by a considerable distance (TIA)
  • Klopp reiterates that Gini has a “top character” and won’t let the Reds down while in the last year of his deal (Mirror)
  • Taki Minamino broke a record for the Reds in midweek in his ‘new’ role (TIA)
  • Ex-Reds right-back Ryan McLaughlin now has a boxing podcast and says he was scared to get a photo with James Bond’s Daniel Craig before a pre-season game in 2012! (Sky)

 

Around the Prem

Brighton and Hove Albion's Ben White during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park, London. (Image: Mike Hewitt/PA Wire/PA Images)

  • Scott Parker believes the return of fans against the Reds will be massive for Fulham (TIA)
  • Man United now want Ben White in January because their other £80m defender has been revealed to be as impressive as your average garden gnome (Mirror)
  • And a whole load of Premier League sides want Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen, who they probably could have had about £20m cheaper in summer when he wasn’t in the team… (Mail)

 

Stupid suggestion of the day

Man United‘s players are worried their inconsistent form is down to constant tactical changes by the manager, say the Telegraph.

While we’re sure it makes an enormous difference to doing such things as “clearing the ball”, “winning a header” and “stopping a cross” – all which led to goals in midweek – are very, very different whether there are two or three players ahead of you and one or three up front…Ole’s great. Keep him.

 

Tweet of the day

https://twitter.com/lubomerkov/status/1337162744404041735

 

What we’re reading

Mental health affects people in all walks of life. This is former Southampton captain Claus Lundekvam and his story of spiralling out of control after retirement, on BBC Sport.

 

Worth watching tonight

Leeds v Hammers at 8! On Sky.

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