Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed Sadio Mane is in contention for the Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade following the hand injury he suffered on international duty.
But the Liverpool boss told his pre-match press conference that Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita have been ruled out.
Klopp said it was a case of "we have to see, day by day" with Keita and added on Henderson: "He had a little hamstring injury...serious enough that he is not available for tomorrow or the weekend."
Klopp added that he is happy with the increased defensive solidity of his team, as a strong back line is “the basis for all successful football teams”.
“We had this discussion last year,” he said. “We don't concede a lot of shots on target and that's defending. It's like last year. I never had the feeling it's for granted. It's hard work. We have to really work for it and in the last game I was not the only one who felt a bit average.
“It was influenced in my case by the three big counter-attacks we had and did not finish off one. If we finish one it's done. We didn't. They had a half chance. I didn’t feel good after the game.
“Make yourself ready for all the challenges you have, face them, solve them and win a football game.”
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Jurgen Klopp's press conference to preview Liverpool's Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade.
Klopp’s side currently sit second, having beaten Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in their opening fixture then suffered a late defeat in Napoli last time out.
Red Star, 1991 European Cup winners, held Napoli to a goalless draw in Belgrade last month before succumbing to a 6-1 defeat in Paris.
Klopp is set to speak to the media at 2.30pm. We'll have live updates from Anfield at 2.00pm.
Sadio Mané is expected to return for Liverpool against Red Star having recovered from a broken thumb.
The winger suffered the injury while away with Senegal during the recent international break and missed Saturday's win at Huddersfield Town.
Naby Keita is Klopp's main absentee, having returned from Guinea duty with a hamstring problem.
Here's the state of play in Group C...
Napoli top, Liverpool lead Paris Saint-Germain on head-to-head results, Red Star bottom.
Napoli's surprise draw in Belgrade keeps things tight.
Liverpool know six points will be needed from this double-header against Red Star in order to remain optimistic about qualification.
Should they take anything less, those final matches against Napoli and in Paris will look a lot more daunting.
The main question hanging over Liverpool is whether they have lost some of their attacking swagger.
Three goals in their last five game would certainly suggest so, but is this relative drought down to a challenging schedule?
Klopp side's have faced Chelsea twice, Napoli and Manchester City in that time.
Tomorrow's meeting with Group C's supposed whipping boys should, in theory, prove more fruitful.
Red Star winger Marko Marin has been ruled out of tomorrow's match through injury.
The former Germany international, who you may remember from a four-year spell at Chelsea, missed Saturday's Superliga 3-1 over Rad.
Left-back Milan Rodic and Jonathan Cafu, on loan from Bordeaux, join Marin on the treatment table.
Red Star Belgrade have made an excellent start to the season in Serbia, by the way.
Vladan Milojevic's side have dropped just two points from their opening 12 matches, drawing 1-1 with historic rivals Partizan.
Red Star are competing in the Champions League for the first time in 26 years, having lifted the European Cup in 1991.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will also be speaking this afternoon.
Alexander-Arnold has not started either of Liverpool's last two matches - the draw with Manchester City and win at Huddersfield - with Joe Gomez starting at right-back.
Is this a hint he will be back in the side tomorrow?
Klopp's here.
Mane OK to play? When will Keita and Henderson be available again?
JK: Sadio's good in training. He trained normal. If nothing happens he is in contention. Naby will not be available, Hendo not as well. We have to see check Naby day by day. We have to see when he's fully fit. It should not be that long.
Hendo got a little hamstring injury in the game. I understnad not too serious but serious that he is not available tomorrow or the weekend.
Struggling to reach top form. More to come?
JK: I understand that, maybe it's because of a post-match interview of mine.But out first job is to win football games. We compare with the best games from last season. Nobody remembers the average games.
The most important thing is to win football games. In the two draws we had in the Premier League we deserved a point, the game in Napoli we deserved to lost. That's what we have to make sure for the future.
The most important thing is to win football games. In the two draws we had in the Premier League we deserved a point, the game in Napoli we deserved to lost. That's what we have to make sure for the future.
It's about feeling right. Feeling confident. Game development. To fight in each game until the last minute. We can do a lot fo things better than we did so far but the place we have created is a really good one. Football-wise and point-wise.
Is the extra solidity satisfying? You must be confident your side can grind out results...
JK: That's the basis for all successful football teams.
We had this discussion last year. We don't concede a lot of shots on target and that's defending. It's like last year. I never had the feeling it's for granted. It's hard work. We have to really work for it and in the last game I was not the only one who felt a bit average.
It was influenced in my case by the thre big counter-attacks we had and did not finish off one. If we finish one it's done. We didn't. They had a half chance. I didnt feel good after the game.
Make yourself ready for all the challenges you have, face them, solve them and win a football game.
Liverpool's recent defensive record in Europe is poor, despite the improvement domestically. Is that a concern?
JK: I didn't know about it so it can't be a concern.
That's competition. Of course we don't want to concede goals. Keeping a clean sheet against PSG is a challenge for all teams in the world.
Pleased you cna still go another level?
JK: First of all you have to feel that. I don't have the feeling of being pleased, it's just so far, so good. Imagine a normal start, with 18 points. You're five behind. It's still a good start.
It looks like it will be a very interesting season.
How did Red Star complicate life for PSG and Napoli?
JK: Defend compact helps a lot. They are a top team in Serbia. I think really they did well. Against Paris, if they opened the box of Pandroa then it's open. If Neymar scores free-kicks from 35 yards nobody can do anything about that.
The full-backs are really leggy, really on their bikes. Offensively and defensively, Serbian teams always like this. They are not bothered about being more aggressive. We need to fight and fight for every square inch we have.
We learned last year atmosphere can make the difference. That's what we need to make sure again.
Do you remember Red Star winning in 1991, against Bayern?
JK: I was 23 and I obviously had something better to do than watching that! That was an outstanding team, it was a good team.
Marko Marin will not play.
JK: I knew Marko since he was at Frankfurt. I lived there when he came through the academy. But what do I know? We saw three games. The focus was on the two Champions League games. I have no clue which line-up they would choose.
Whoever they line-up they are a top team in Serbia and that brings confidence. They are used to winning football games, that's how it is. We have to make sure they do not come in that mood.
Its rare for a dominating team to switch and defend like they did against Paris. They came through in a very exciting situation against Salzburg. Whoever comes tomorrow, it's a home game at Anfield and we want to win it. We're not sure we can but we want to try. Belgrade will fight, 100 per cent. We have 30 hours to prepare and that's what we will do.
No Belgrade fans tomorrow. Strange?
JK: When I played I played in empty stadiums because nobody was interested. But in England it's more that you follow the game, support the team and if you have a bigger number then cool.
It's all about being really together. We are not the most experienced team in Champions League because we came to the final. We are still fresh in comparison to a lot of teams in the competition, but we must make sure this one advantage: our crowd.
Trent's here now...
You've been left out of the last two. Has the manager explained why?
TAA: It's a world class club and it would be wrong to expect every week.
You've
You've
You've spoke about your desire to be captain one day?
TAA: It's something I've always dreamed of. There's a lot of hard work to go into it. It's about being patient and working hard, hopefully one day that opportunity might come.
Napoli result make tomorrow more important?
TAA: Potentially, but it's not something we're focused on. We're focused on ourselves. The objective is always to take three points.
Red Star drew with Napoli. Could be tricky test...
TAA: Definitely. Every team in this competition is here to compete.
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