Mo Salah and Ryan Gravenberch are fit to feature in Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester United but there will be no Ibrahima Konate, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota at Old Trafford.
Though if any Manchester United supporters are hoping that a half-fit Liverpool outfit will roll over a few miles down the M62, then expect to be in for a nasty surprise.
Despite being without a number of first-team regulars, Liverpool beat Chelsea in the EFL Cup final, dominated for large spells away at Man City, and slapped 11 goals past Sparta Prague in the Europa League over two legs.
Teenage talents Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas have been nothing short of a revelation, while Wataru Endo, Connor Bradley, Caoimhin Kelleher, Darwin Nunez and co have stepped up while playing the best football of their English football careers.
Manchester United host injury-hit Liverpool in FA Cup
Still, the absence of Ibrahima Konate will be a big blow, particularly given the pace of Man United’s frontline. Jarrel Quansah or Joe Gomez are the most likely replacements alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Klopp confirms that Jones, Jota and Alexander-Arnold will also miss the trip to Old Trafford alongside goalkeeper Alisson Becker, though Gravenberch and a certain free-scoring Egyptian will be fit to feature.
“Mo (Salah) is definitely ready,” Klopp tells the club’s official website.. “Ibou (Konate) didn’t train (on Friday). We have to see if he can train tomorrow but it will be a tight, tight race which we will probably lose. But we don’t know.
“Ryan (Gravenberch) trained today again, so he’s ready. And the others, some of the others, (will return) after the international break; Curtis, and I think the other two, Diogo and Trent, for the week after.”
Man United held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw at Anfield in this season’s previous meeting, a massive improvement on that 7-0 hammering on their other trip to the red side of Stanley Park in 2023.
Erik ten Hag will need the likes of Andre Onana to be at their most resilient again, however, especially with Salah looking to add to a fearsome tally of 12 goals against the Red Devils. United will have to face their perennial bogeyman without a recognised left-back too.
“Super-good,” Klopp says of Salah’s performance against Sparta Prague on Thursday, scoring one and assisting three during his first 90 minute outing since January.
Mo Salah back ahead of Old Trafford trip
“He scored and was then involved in all the others, pretty much. Exceptional. Mo is pure quality. He’s just an exceptional guy, world-class player.
“How we dealt without him is unbelievable. The boys did really well. But it’s better to have him around and on the pitch than just in the dressing room. Good. We could build it now with minutes and he is ready for Sunday.”
Ten Hag had some positive news himself in his pre-match presser, confirming that top-scorer Rasmus Hojlund and defensive duo Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka should be back in the same week as Mason Mount returned to training.
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