Here are your Liverpool evening headlines for Friday 25 September
Joe Gomez back in training ahead of Arsenal clash
Jurgen Klopp has revealed that key defender Joe Gomez is back in training in what could be a timely boost to his squad ahead of Monday evening’s clash with Arsenal.
Fabinho received rave reviews for his performance in defence at Chelsea last weekend, but the Brazilian could be free to return to his usual midfield role if Gomez is fit and firing by Monday.
Elsewhere, Joel Matip and captain Jordan Henderson will be unavailable, while Thiago is in line for his first Premier League start after making his debut as a half-time substitute in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Chelsea.
Here’s all the latest injury news from Jurgen Klopp’s pre-match press conference.
Jurgen Klopp responds to RB Leipzig’s Curtis Jones interest
Liverpool academy graduate Curtis Jones put in another eye-catching performance last night, scoring twice in the 7-2 victory over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup.
Influential German coach Ralf Rangnick, said to be a close friend of Klopp, has revealed that he’d previously enquired about the youngster’s availability during his time in charge of RB Leipzig.
He revealed that Klopp knocked him back on the enquiry and suggested that Liverpool are keen to see Jones develop his talents on Merseyside.
"I know that they don't (want to send him out on loan), because I was asking Jurgen about Curtis two years ago, if they would send him to Leipzig on loan for a year or two, and he said no," Rangnick told The Football Show on Sky Sports.
"Jurgen wants to keep him. I think he knows what kind of massive talent he has with Curtis in his squad.”
Here’s what he had to say in full .
Top prospect signs first professional deal
Liverpool haven’t wasted any time in getting top academy prospect James Balagizi tied down to a first professional contract, with the starlet putting pen to paper less than a week after his 17th birthday.
Players aren’t permitted to sign professional terms any younger than the age of 17.
England Under-17 international Balagizi has established himself as one of the most highly-rated players in Liverpool’s academy and looks set to be feature regularly for the Reds’ Under-18s this season.
One of his key attributes is his versatility, with youth scouts noting his ability to play as a number six, eight or ten in midfield.
