Jurgen Klopp with deep happiness welcomes super midfielder fully back to face Leeds

Thiago Alcantara is expected to be available for Liverpool’s Premier League match against Leeds United on Saturday, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Spaniard was diagnosed with an ear infection on the morning of last weekend’s defeat to Nottingham Forest and was forced to withdraw from the game.

Thiago did not train before the Reds’ midweek Champions League win against Ajax, forcing him to miss a second consecutive game.

However, the former Bayern Munich man has since recovered from the infection and could be back in the starting XI as the Reds tackle Leeds at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Delivering a team news update at his pre-match press conference, Klopp also had positive news to share on Jordan Henderson, who came off with a knock to the knee against Ajax.

“With Hendo, we have to wait. He was a bit stiff yesterday but I expect him to be okay,” Klopp told reporters. “Thiago will return too.”

However, neither Naby Keita nor Joel Matip will be available for the contest, while Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Arthur Melo remain out for the long term.

“It’s still soon for Naby Keita and [Joel] Matip is still out. You don’t have to ask about Diogo [Jota] or Luis [Diaz] for a while,” Klopp added.

When asked for further details on the possibility of letting Juventus loanee Arthur leave the club in January, Klopp affirmed that the Brazilian would not leave midway through his deal, but he will not be back on the pitch until January at the earliest.

“He’s here. It’s a long-term injury and when he’s back, we’ll think about it again. But at the moment, it’s too far away. No [we won’t cut the loan in January],” Klopp said.

The German will be eligible to take his place in the home dugout this week, having avoided a touchline ban for giving the linesman an earful in his side’s 1-0 win over Manchester City two weekends ago.

Klopp was left enraged at the official’s failure to call an apparent foul on Mohamed Salah by Bernardo Silva and was sent off, but he will not serve a one-game suspension and has instead been fined £30,000.

The 55-year-old is content with a fine after being told that the money will be invested in something worthwhile, adding: “I know what I said and I know saying that at a further distance and with a different face, it would have been completely fine.

“It was the most costly face; it’s a lot of money, but I’ve heard it’ll be put to good use. I’d never gotten a red card before. I’m neither relieved nor joyful; I was just waiting for the punishment.”

Liverpool is currently eighth in the Premier League table heading into Saturday’s encounter and can only move up to seventh with all three points against Jesse Marsch’s team.