Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed a double fitness boost ahead of the clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
The Reds welcome the Spanish champions to Anfield with an opportunity to further stamp their authority on Group B and qualify as winners with two games to spare.
Klopp has been without a host of key midfielders in recent weeks and was forced into an early change against Brighton & Hove Albion when Naby Keita went off injured.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference, Klopp confirmed the Guinean will be absent whilst two others are in line to return.
Naby has a hamstring injury, will be out for a while. Milner is long term. Fabinho and Thiago trained completely normal and are in contention. We will see.
Thiago has been missing for a prolonged period following a calf injury whilst Fabinho has missed the last three matches having picked up a knee problem in the reverse fixture.
Liverpool beat Atletico 3-2 at the Wanda Metropolitano a fortnight ago through a brace from Mohamed Salah and a wonderful Keita volley.
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Fabinho is always a huge miss at the base of the Liverpool midfield.
Although many of the alternative options possess their own qualities, none can come close to matching the Brazilian’s defensive awareness and ability to snuff out danger before it manifests itself.
Welcoming a player of Thiago’s calibre back to the fold is also another huge plus, albeit the Spaniard has struggled for form and prolonged fitness since arriving on Merseyside.
Klopp will now have a decision to make whether to include both or save them for a tricky Premier League encounter at West Ham on Sunday.
Perhaps for the first time in the German’s reign at Anfield, the upcoming international break could be a timely one to allow players to return to fitness.
