MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Thursday, December 22, 2022: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp puts an arm around James Milner as he goes off with an injury during the Football League Cup 4th Round match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool FC at the City of Manchester Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Jurgen Klopp updates on James Milner injury and 4 other absentees

Jurgen Klopp has provided a hopeful update on the hamstring injury James Milner picked up against Man City, along with four players who missed out.

Milner was among the starters in a strong Liverpool side that returned to action on Thursday night, but was forced off before the break with a hamstring issue.

The veteran immediately removed his captain’s armband as he motioned to come off, but in his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Klopp said his No. 7 was optimistic.

“Milly is convinced it’s only a little, little, little thing,” he explained.

“But he felt something and we just wanted to make sure it’s not getting worse.

“It’s something in the hamstring, I don’t know. We have to see.”

The manager added: “All the rest should be fine.”

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 22, 2022: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold arrives before the FA Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Liverpool FC at the City Ground. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Those players he was referencing included Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones, who were absent due to illness and injury respectively, along with Virgil van Dijk.

“Trent was ill, like Ox was until yesterday. Virgil trained at the AXA today,” Klopp continued.

“All the others should be available apart from the long-term injuries.”

That would suggest that Liverpool should have a new fully fit squad for their trip to Aston Villa on Boxing Day, though Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota remain sidelined.

Ibrahima Konate will not be part of the squad, either, with the manager revealing that the France centre-back is not due back for training until next week.

Klopp did elaborate on Van Dijk in his post-match press conference, however, insisting that he “should be ready for Monday.”