27 January 2023 , 11:50
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Jurgen Klopp has offered an update on a number of Liverpool stars currently sidelined with either injury or illness before their FA Cup fourth round clash away at Brighton.
The Reds have had to deal with an overwhelming amount of injuries over the course of this season and will be unable to call on a number of stars for Sunday's trip to the south coast. The most notable absentee is Virgil van Dijk, who has been out of action since the 3-1 defeat by Brentford earlier this month.
However, Klopp had a positive update regarding the Dutchman as he told reporters during his pre-match press conference that the central defender is expected to be back in first-team training within "a couple of weeks".
It is a similar story for Roberto Firmino, who was enjoying an impressive season before his fine form was halted in its tracks by an injury that has kept him out of action since club football resumed following the World Cup. The Brazilian has now missed eight matches, but like Van Dijk should return to training soon.
Firmino is not the only Liverpool attacker currently ruled out of action, with both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz occupying space on the treatment table for quite some time now. Klopp has revealed that while both are closer on their road to recovery, only Jota is expected back in training within the next few weeks.
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Eyebrows were raised when Liverpool signed Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo on loan at the start of the season and it is a deal that has not yet worked out at all.
Arthur Melo has made just one 13 minute appearance for Liverpool's first-team but is nearing a return to fitness (PA)HAVE YOUR SAY! How far will Liverpool progress in this year's FA Cup? Comment below
The Brazil international has seen his Anfield stay curtailed by injury, meaning Arthur has made just one first-team appearance for the club; a 13-minute cameo during the humiliating 4-1 Champions League defeat by Napoli back in September.
However, there is at long last some good news for the midfielder as Klopp confirmed Arthur "looks good" and is "two or three weeks" away from being able to resume training.
Both Fabio Carvalho and Nat Phillips are unlikely to feature at the Amex, with the former "not 100 percent ready" while the latter has a "proper, proper cold."
There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of Phillips, who has been touted with an Anfield exit in search of more game-time after finding his minutes limited at Liverpool this term.
Klopp took the time to address the speculation during his pre-match presser, but remained coy over whether we can expect a move from Phillips. "It depends on the offers," he explained. "We have to be prepared for everything. We will see."
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