Jurgen Klopp says he expects Roberto Firmino to return to full Liverpool training next week.
Firmino has missed the last five games through injury and will also be absent for Monday's trip to relegation-threatened Leicester City. That means the Brazilian now faces a battle to prove his fitness in time for what will be his last chance to appear at Anfield ahead of his summer departure.
Klopp confirmed that the 2015 summer signing won't be part of training across the weekend, which rules him out of the visit to the King Power Stadium, but indicated that he has a chance to feature in the final home fixture of the season next Saturday against Aston Villa.
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It promises to be an emotional occasion for both Firmino and the supporters should he be declared fit for the meeting with Villa on May 20 as the South American gears up for the final home appearance of a decorated eight-year spell on Merseyside.
Klopp was succinct in his update of Naby Keita, whose Liverpool career is coming to an end with a whimper having missed the last two months of action.
"No, he is not in team training yet," Klopp said of Firmino. "Bobby was in training yesterday (Thursday) and he looks nearly there, but not for the weekend. I feel now if he is in the session today I would be surprised, but he starts training, team-wise, after the Leicester game. Naby Keita, no."
The Reds boss added: "Leicester won the league in my first season, it was a special story, a special story that will stay forever. The situation is now completely different and I don't want to compare with what (former manager) Brendan Rodgers's team.
"They are now in a relegation battle and that is obvious. We will have an analysis meeting after this press conference but I saw the Everton game and they have good spells, they are a footballing team but it is always like this when you are in a relegation battle you are not always the best version of yourselves. That is why it is so difficult.
"We expect a team that wants to stay in the league. At the start of our week I said to the boys that this will be a real fight, we have to be ready because they then play Newcastle, which is not an easy game, so they need all the points they can get. I expect a super intense game and a fight against brilliant players."
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