Jurgen Klopp has revealed Luis Diaz is unlikely to make his Liverpool comeback against Arsenal this weekend, despite his return to first team training.
The Colombia international suffered a serious knee injury during the reverse fixture between the two Premier League powerhouses in October and suffered a setback during a winter training camp in Dubai that delayed his return to the fold.
Thiago Alcantara is, however, likely to be in contention to take his place in Liverpool’s midfield engine room, while Virgil van Dijk is also available having missed the midweek stalemate against Chelsea through illness.
‘It looks unlikely Luis will be involved on Sunday,’ confirmed Klopp. ‘Thiago looks slightly different, might be available, we have to check.
‘Luis [Diaz] and Thiago were training completely normal. We have to be plan that Luis will be 100% available for Leeds.’
Whoever Klopp turns to on Sunday, they will need to be at their absolute best to halt and Arsenal side who have embarked on an impressive seven-game winning run.
That string of victories has edged Mikel Arteta’s side into the position of favourites to win the title, a scenario few could have imagined at the start of the campaign.
Klopp, however, is unsurprised at the progress the Gunners have made under the tutelage of the Spaniard who earned his coaching stripes working alongside Pep Guardiola.
‘They are a different team,’ said Klopp, referencing Arsenal’s 11-year run without a win at Anfield.
‘Mikel has been building for a few years now and the outcome is pretty impressive. Really good football, top players and good match plans.
‘It’s a mix of really good football and extreme emotions. It is a good way to play. I know people ask for time for managers but I really think Mikel deserved each minute he got there when things weren’t going well.
‘The team is very well set up, good transfers on top of that but a really stable team. That’s what they’re using now.’
