17 February 2023 , 14:10
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Virgil van Dijk is expected to return to the Liverpool starting XI to face Newcastle after making a full recovery from a hamstring injury.
The centre-back has not featured since the 3-1 loss at Brentford at the start of 2023 but made the bench for Monday's 2-0 victory over Everton. The Reds travel to St James' Park for Saturday's evening kick-off and Jurgen Klopp declares Van Dijk looks "absolutely ready" to feature in the tricky fixture.
It is less clear whether Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota will be able to start against the Magpies, who sit fourth in the Premier League going into the weekend, nine points ahead of Liverpool having played one game more. The two forwards came off the bench against Everton but Klopp admits they "need the time" to get back to full fitness.
"We tried to allow them some minutes as early as possible," Klopp said of Firmino and Jota. "Whatever you do in training, the first 10 to 15 minutes of a game feel like torture."
Firmino suffered a calf injury against Manchester City in the EFL Cup in December while Jota was sidelined two months earlier after sustaining a major hamstring problem against the same opposition in the league. The pair's cameos against the Toffees were a welcome sight for the Anfield faithful as they provide Klopp with many more variations in attack, even if they are not fit to start against Newcastle this weekend.
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Roberto Firmino (left) has resumed full training and came off the bench against Everton (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)The outlook for the rest of Liverpool's players in the treatment room is less rosy. Winger Luis Diaz suffered a significant knee injury against Arsenal in October and will not return until March. The same is true of midfielder Thiago, who was ruled out of the Merseyside Derby with a hip injury.
Centre-back Ibrahima Konate, meanwhile, could return towards the end of February as he recovers from a hamstring injury sustained against Brighton in the FA Cup in late January. Injury-plagued Arthur is working towards a similar timeline as the midfielder rehabilitates from a thigh issue of his own.
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Diogo Jota gives Jurgen Klopp another option in attack (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Liverpool's only other concern relates to Calvin Ramsay, who is set to miss the rest of the season. The right-back underwent surgery on his knee to address a niggling issue. Speaking on Friday, ahead of the trip to Newcastle, Klopp said: "Same squad as Monday night. Ibou [Konate] not yet, Luis not yet. But that's it pretty much. Nothing happened on injury side. Thiago out. Calvin had surgery, not available."
Klopp will hope the likes of Konate and Diaz are back before long as the fixture schedule grows hectic for the Reds over the next few weeks. As well as their top-flight commitments, Liverpool take on Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16, with the first leg taking place on Tuesday.