Liverpool return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon when Aston Villa, who are missing injured Philippe Coutinho, visit Merseyside
With a toe injury, Darwin Nunez will miss Liverpool’s crucial match against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
With the same complaint, the Uruguay international was forced to miss Liverpool’s recent 3-0 win at Leicester and has not recovered in time to face Villa. The news comes as a blow to Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, who is aiming for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Liverpool enters Saturday’s game fifth in the table, one point behind Manchester United in fourth despite having played one more game. Klopp’s team must beat Villa and Southampton at St Mary’s in their final game, and hope Erik ten Hag’s men falter.
Klopp will also be without Thiago Alcantara (hip), Stefan Bajcetic (adductor), and Calvin Ramsay (knee) for the Villa trip, but that’s about it.
Liverpool announced that Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Naby Keita will all leave the club when their contracts expire next month. All four players are expected to be included in Klopp’s squad for the emotional farewell match against Villa.
Liverpool’s final game at Anfield this season is on Saturday afternoon. Firmino, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Keita will all be hoping to play some part in the game to experience the legendary Anfield atmosphere one last time, but none of them are expected to start.
During a pre-match press conference on Friday, Klopp provided team news. “Bobby takes Darwin’s place because Darwin will not be available,” he explained.
“Darwin will not be available,” Klopp explained. It’s an inflammation of a toe tendon, which is obviously very painful. He hasn’t yet trained this week, so he won’t be available for tomorrow. The long-term injuries are still out, but the rest of the players should be available.”
Klopp is expected to start Alisson in goal, with a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson. Curtis Jones, who has started nine consecutive Premier League games, should stay in midfield.
Jones will almost certainly be joined in midfield by the ever-present Fabinho, with captain Jordan Henderson also vying for a starting spot. There’s no reason to believe Mohamed Salah will be benched, which leaves Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, and Diogo Jota vying for the final two attack spots. Jota is expected to be the unlucky star who does not make the cut.
Meanwhile, Villa manager Emery will be without former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an undisclosed injury. Calum Chambers is battling illness but hopes to travel to Merseyside.
Aston Villa: Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Curtis Jones; Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz.
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