Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has all his attackers fit and firing for Wednesday’s 9pm Uefa Super Cup clash against Chelsea in Istanbul.
And that leaves the coach with a dilemma over which of his Champions League winners will start against a Blues defence that conceded four goals against Manchester United on Sunday.
Last Friday, the Reds started their Premier League title challenge with a bang by beating promoted Norwich 4-1.
IN FORM: Divock Origi. Photo: Peter Powell/EPA.
Among the goal-scorers were Mo Salah and Divock Origi, with Roberto Firmino starting and Sadio Mane coming off the bench for the last quarter of an hour.
But with Copa America winner Roberto Firmino and Afcon finalist Sadio Mane both having sharpened their match fitness, Klopp says Mane is jikking to start.
SHARP: Sadio Mane. Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters.
He explains: “I think he [Mane] would have been ready to start on Friday, but after five days and having two players on the pitch with pretty much no pre-season up front you have to look a little bit at how you can do it.
“It’s not clear from the first second which three players you have to change, especially with them, which kills all your plans when the goalie leaves the pitch that early.
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“So I think it was the right thing to do, but he’s for sure fresher now, fitter now, and yeah, he is ready.”
Meanwhile, Klopp reveals they will add goalkeeper Andy Lonergan to their squad on a “short-term” contract as cover for the injured Alisson.