'Close To [Being] Back' - Jurgen Klopp Gives Major Injury Updates Ahead Of Man City Clash

Jurgen Klopp has stated both Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota remain unavailable for Liverpool’s pre-season fixture against RB Salzburg.

Alisson has been missing since coming off in the Reds’ 4-0 defeat to Manchester United in Bangkok, but according to Klopp, the goalkeeper is ‘close' to getting back.

The Brazilian could well feature in this weekend’s Community Shield fixture against Manchester City.

Alisson has been suffering from an abdominal issue, while Jota has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury he sustained while on duty with Portugal earlier this summer.

There are fears that the forward may now miss the start of the Premier League season.

Klopp Liverpool’s official website:

“Obviously Diogo (Jota) is not here, that’s clear, but from the boys who are injured but are here, Ali is the closest- definitely not for Salzburg but then we will see. He is close to get back I think,”

“Between now and five o’clock, it’s now 2pm and between now and 5pm I will wait for messages and see who can train this afternoon properly. Then the game tomorrow, we will see.”

Jota netted 21 times in 55 appearances across all competitions last season for the Merseyside club, while Alisson kept 27 clean sheets in 53 appearances last campaign.

Having the pair fit and firing for the start of the new season will be of paramount importance to Klopp.

In Alisson’s absence, number two Caoimhin Kelleher has stepped in for the duration of the pre-season.

And with Jota unlikely to be ready for the City game, it would appear to be a straight shootout between Roberto Firmino and new marquee signing Darwin Nunez for the striker position.

Liverpool have experienced a largely positive pre-season thus far, aside from their dismal defeat to United in Thailand.

Wins over Crystal Palace and an emphatic 5-0 win over German side RB Leipzig, where Nunez got off the mark with four second half goals, have put Klopp's side in a positive mood ahead of the new campaign.