Liverpool will be looking to continue their encouraging start to the season on Wednesday night when they kick off their Carabao Cup campaign against Leicester City at Anfield.
The Reds beat West Ham 3-1 at home on Sunday to make it five wins out of six in their Premier League fixtures so far this season. Throw in a 3-1 victory away at LASK in the Europa League and Jurgen Klopp's men have been almost perfect in all competitions.
Klopp is expected to ring the changes against the Foxes, but he may have to make some checks on a couple of first team stars for the game.
Jurgen Klopp admitted afterwards that it was a hamstring problem and that the Scouse full-back has not played in the three weeks since that game. Alexander-Arnold is back out running but hadn’t returned to full training in time for West Ham but could be back to face Tottenham on Saturday 30 September.
Thiago Alcantara was close to a long awaited return to action before suffering a setback in training in August. Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Thiago was to return to training after Newcastle on August 27, but the Spaniard would return too quickly and has yet to be involved since.
“Thiago had a little setback. He started training with the team and had a little setback so we have to slow down there a little bit,” Klopp said.
“It’s not cool for him, it’s not cool for us but it’s how it is. Thiago will use the (September) international break for that, to be up to speed I’m pretty sure. It should hopefully be enough. All the rest are available.”
Thiago continues to work away from the main group but Liverpool will hope to reintegrate him into full training soon.
The young full-back showed potential with pre-season performances in Germany, playing 90 minutes over the course of two fixtures.
He was then left out of the group that travelled to Singapore following a minor, unspecified injury and has not featured in any matchday squads since the start of the season, though has been involved in training since his team-mates returned to England.
Once fit the Northern Irishman is expected to slot into Klopp’s plans as understudy to Alexander-Arnold, having proven himself in League One with Bolton Wanderers last year.