Diogo Jota is fit enough to be named among the Liverpool substitutes for this afternoon’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.
Jota suffered an ankle injury in last week’s Champions League win against Inter Milan at the San Siro and has not played since.
Speaking on Friday, Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders said: “Jota, so far [has] no reaction on the things he did, so the straight-line running, the changes of direction and the ball work he did, so that’s a good sign. He isn’t ruled out but still it will be a challenge.”
Jurgen Klopp was forced into a late change, with Thiago Alcantara injured in the warm-up and replaced in the starting XI by Naby Keita.
Roberto Firmino had already been ruled out of the game at Wembley due to a muscle issue.
Lijnders added: “Bobby we have to see in the next two days. He is pushing himself really hard but he will not be available for the final, to reach the squad.
“We hope he will be back really soon because you all see and know and feel how important he is for our way of playing, so I am happy that he is pushing himself. Hopefully he is soon back.”
With Firmino injured and Jota only fit for the bench, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are joined by January signing Luis Diaz in the front-three.
Caoimhin Kelleher will start in goal with Alisson Becker on the bench, as has been Liverpool’s approach throughout the competition.
Liverpool starting XI (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Salah, Mane, Diaz.
