Time out: Lallana will miss Liverpool's trip to Augsburg due to injury

Wayne Veysey

Thu 31 March 2016 20:07, UK

PREVIEW By Coral Barry

Jurgen Klopp is expected to be able to call on star playmaker Philippe Coutinho to pull the strings for an attacking Liverpool trio in Saturday’s Premier showdown with Tottenham.

Liverpool return to action after the international break to face current title-chasers Tottenham in the early evening kick-off.

Coutinho had been a fitness concern, but has shown no ill effects of his gruelling return trip from South America and trained with the rest of the squad on Thursday.

Klopp has been thrown a few injury headaches ahead of the clash with Coutinho’s partner in creative crime, Roberto Firmino a major doubt for the match.

Coutinho and Firmino have been sometimes unstoppable when they have been on the pitch together this season and have struck up a formidable partnership at the heart of Liverpool’s attack.

But it looks like Coutinho will have to face Tottenham without his fellow countryman after Firmino missed the training session at Melwood on Thursday.

Firmino’s expected absence means that Adam Lallana should have no problem holding onto to his starting place as one of three attacking midfielders behind spearhead Daniel Sturridge.

Lallana has produced some fine displays in recent weeks and impressed during the international break for England.

James Milner is also in line to return to the starting eleven immediately after serving a one-match suspension and is likely to join Coutinho and Lallana in supporting Sturridge assuming the England front man has suffered no ill effects from his midweek run-out for the national team.

Divock Origi has recovered from his own international injury, but the 20-year-old is unlikely to dislodge a fit Sturridge.

At the back Liverpool seem to have no new injury concerns apart from Alberto Moreno who should be fit after returning to training following a hamstring injury.

Lucas Leiva has returned to training after a lengthy absence, but is not expected to feature on Saturday.

Liverpool (possible): Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Can; Lallana, Coutinho, Milner; Sturridge.

In other Liverpool news, the club has been rocked by two targets opting for Manchester City.