Here are your Liverpool morning headlines for Wednesday, November 25.
Firmino set for Atalanta despite training absence
Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino could still be part of tonight’s Champions League group D squad for Atalanta despite missing training on Tuesday, writes the ECHO’s Paul Gorst .
The Brazilian was absent from Liverpool’s last session before taking on the Italians at Anfield as the Reds target qualification to the knockout stages.
Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are expected to miss the game after sitting out training, while Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xherdan Shaqiri and Trent Alexander-Arnold also did not participate at the club’s new AXA Training Centre.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed, however, that Mohamed Salah is set to be available after missing Saturday’s win over Leicester City having returned a positive coronavirus test during the international break.
How Liverpool can qualify for the Round of 16
Liverpool can follow Chelsea into the Champions League knockout rounds if results go follow they continue on their way tonight.
The Reds have a perfect record after three games in Group D and are yet to concede a goal as they look to repeat their free-scoring display in the 5-0 win over Atalanta in Italy.
Liverpool will qualify for the last-16 if they beat Atalanta as they would be eight points ahead of the Serie A side with two games remaining.
Should the Reds secure three points at Anfield, they will win the group if Ajax fail to beat Midtjylland.
Clinching qualification with two games left would be a significant boost for Klopp as it would allow the German to rotate his squad against Ajax and Midtjylland between Premier League games.
Reds still dangerous without Van Dijk
Liverpool were able to retain their threat from set-pieces against Leicester despite Virgil van Dijk’s absence, writes Andrew Beasley .
The Reds scored 17 goals from set-pieces on their way to the title last season, five of which came from the Dutchman’s head.
Naturally, people feared that Liverpool’s aerial threat would diminish without Van Dijk, but they managed to score three headers against the Foxes thanks to James Milner’s pinpoint accuracy from corners (albeit one was a Jonny Evans own goal).
Even without Van Dijk, the Premier League champions possess considerable prowess from dead-ball situations, with Firmino leading the way in headed goals since the start of 2017/18 with 11, and Sadio Mane tied-second with Van Dijk on nine.
As proven in the win over Leicester, Liverpool fans do not have to worry that their side’s ability to hurt opponents at set-pieces would be impacted by Van Dijk’s injury.
