Liverpool injury update on Firmino and Jones, Jurgen Klopp reacts to Newcastle poaching backroom staff member

Jurgen Klopp has been speaking to the media ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Newcastle United on Thursday.

Here are the key talking points from the Reds boss’ press conference.

Injury update

Liverpool will be handed an attacking boost against Newcastle as Roberto Firmino is set to return to the squad.

The striker has been absent for the past eight games with a hamstring injury after limping off in the 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid last month.

The Newcastle game comes too soon for Curtis Jones, but he’s back training after his freak eye injury and closing in on a return.

Klopp’s happy players are returning to availability ahead of the busy festive period.

He said: “Bobby trained completely normal yesterday and is in contention.

“Curtis had his first season which was partial, so he’s not far off.

“Timing-wise, it couldn’t be better. It’s a busy period and getting two players of this calibre is good news.”

Mark Leyland’s departure

Newcastle have poached a member of Liverpool’s backroom staff heading into the game.

Mark Leyland, who served as the Reds’ head of post-match and elite player development analysis, has left Anfield for the Magpies after eight years in his role.

It means Leyland could give Eddie Howe’s Newcastle a boost as they prepare to upset Liverpool given his insight - but Klopp’s not overly-concerned.

He said: “It does, absolutely, we couldn’t change that.

“Mark has been here longer than I have and was absolutely incredible but had a chance for a more senior role at Newcastle, which we couldn’t offer here.

“He was eager to make the next step in his career could have said to start in 3-4 weeks.

“In football, everyone knows everything anyway apart from the line-up. But anyone with a football brain knows how we play football.

“We were happy to let him use this opportunity. Good people should be treated in a good way.”

Matip’s mooted Cameroon return

There have been reports that Joel Matip is considering a return to Cameroon duty for the African Cup of Nations, which starts next month.

However, Klopp has spoken to Matip - who has no plans of coming out of international retirement.

The German said: “No. When I spoke and asked him, he said no. That’s just one of the news out there in the world that has nothing behind.”

Covid situation

With Covid-19 cases on the rise in the UK, several matches have been forced to be postponed in the past week.

The latest was Manchester United’s game with Brentford on Tuesday.

There’s lots of talk about whether vaccinations should be mandatory for footballers.

However, Klopp insists everyone who works at Liverpool’s training ground has been doubled jabbed, at a minimum.

“I support these new measures, absolutely that we get tested everyday and PCR tested before the games.

“We get tested before we arrive, go back to the cars and when the lateral flow results are negative, we are allowed to enter the training ground.

“Yesterday, we were all negative and hope we are today. Like the whole world, we are concerned.

“The vaccination state in the team is pretty good. All who have eligible have been boosted, for some reason some people for medical reasons were not allowed but will be in the next few days.

“I didn’t think about it yet. Who knows where we will be when we start signing players again. It’s not important at the moment.

“The vaccination thing is solidarity and togetherness. We have a chance not just to help ourselves but other people as well.

“Everyone at the AXA training ground is at least double vaccinated and will get a booster.”