Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp remains hopeful that the club captain Jordan Henderson will play again this season despite being ruled out for at least a month after surgery.
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The key midfielder, who's been treated for a groin problem, will miss a minimum of five club matches, plus England's World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland in late March.
"The best-case scenario, I don't know," said Klopp on Friday. "It's not a quick one but we hope there is still a possibility for him to play a few games this season."
Henderson's absence reduces further Klopp's options at centre-back as he had been covering that position in the absence of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Fabinho.
Klopp also doesn't know yet whether goalkeeper Alisson Becker will play in Sunday's match at Sheffield United after the death of his father in a swimming accident in Brazil earlier this week.
Klopp, who due to coronavirus restrictions was not able to attend the funeral of his mother Elisabeth in Germany after she died in January, will give Alisson all the time he needs following Wednesday's tragic news.
There has been some good news on the injury front with forward Diogo Jota returning to full training this week after three months out with a knee injury to put himself in with a chance of making the squad for Bramall Lane.
Fabinho, who has played just one of the last seven matches because of a muscle problem, and Milner, who has missed two games with a hamstring injury, are also set to begin training on Saturday but they may not be risked for Sunday.
Jota's availability, however, could be the lift Klopp's side need after just two Premier League wins since Christmas dropped them to sixth in the table.
"Diogo trained now twice with the team, looks very good - very good. He was out long term so we have to see what we can do with that but in training he looks really promising," said the Reds boss.
Australian Associated Press
