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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Divock Origi absence explained as Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez return to Liverpool squad

Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk are part of the Liverpool bench as they meet Hertha Berlin in Austria.

Neither player has featured for the Reds since sustaining long-term knee injuries inside the first couple of months of last season.

Both had initially been expected to miss this evening's game against the Bundesliga outfit before a surprise update from Jurgen Klopp earlier this week.

For now, though, Ibrahima Konate continues to partner Joel Matip in the centre of defence as they build on a partnership that was struck during the first half of Friday's 1-0 win over Mainz.

Kostas Tsimikas deputises for Andy Robertson at left-back with Caoimhin Kelleher continuing in goal for Alisson Becker.

In midfield, Naby Keita is again handed the chance to impress from the start alongside captain James Milner and Harvey Elliott, who continues to be selected in the centre of the park this summer.

Divock Origi will not be involved thanks to a minor injury, while Xherdan Shaqiri is also absent as speculation over his future continues to grow amid interest from elsewhere.

Thiago Alcantara only joined up with the squad on Wednesday and is not involved this evening.

Liverpool team vs Hertha: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas; Milner, Keita, Elliott; Mane, Salah, Minamino.

Subs: Adrian, H. Davies, Van Dijk, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Jota, Robertson, R. Williams, Phillips, Gordon, Beck, Cain, Clarkson, N. Williams, Bradley, Koumetio.

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