Early team news for Anfield assignment

Erik ten Hag is certainly without the services of skipper Bruno Fernandes, as the midfielder picked up his fifth booking of the season in the defeat to Bournemouth and must serve a one-match suspension.

Forwards Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford missed the UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich due to illness, while Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire sustained injuries in the first half to cast doubt on their availability.

The defensive pair will continue to be assessed after being withdrawn at Old Trafford, with an update likely from the manager at his press conference on Friday, which can be watched across our official channels from 13:30 GMT.

The Reds are aiming to improve on a poor recent record at Anfield, in order to provide a huge boost on the back of the successive home losses to Bournemouth and Bayern.

Victor Lindelof trained in the lead-up to the European tie but was unavailable for those two games, with Raphael Varane recalled to the backline. 

Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro are taking positive steps in their return to fitness, while Amad is training again, but we await news on any progress for midfielders Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount.

Tyrell Malacia is not due back until early 2024, as the injury list continues to be a lengthy one.

LIVERPOOL'S TEAM NEWS

Jurgen Klopp's men are in action on Thursday evening, with a 17:45 GMT kick-off away to Union Saint-Gilloise in the UEFA Europa League. However, the Merseysiders have already qualified as group winners so will select a shadow side at Lotto Park.

Fit-again Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and leading scorer Mohamed Salah are among those given a rest, but Klopp has stressed: "The line-up in my mind, the line-up we used today in training, would mean we have a good mix between a bit more experience and youth." 

Joel Matip is out for some time after surgery to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, while Alexis Mac Allister is also set to miss Sunday's showdown after suffering a knee problem in the win at Sheffield United.

"I never had this injury for one of my players before but now we have it," Klopp said of the Argentinian World Cup winner. "I hope it will not take that long, I would like to say it’s day by day - but that would look like he could maybe play the next game. But he will not be ready for that as well. So, I hope, in the next three or four days, he makes big steps and then we will see."

Andrew Robertson, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Diogo Jota are set to remain on the sidelines.