‘A doubt’ - Liverpool handed triple injury blow ahead of Newcastle United clash

Liverpool have been dealt a fresh injury blow ahead of their trip to Newcastle United on Sunday with centre-back Ibrahima Konaté labelled a doubt by manager Jurgen Klopp due to a muscle injury.

The Frenchman has partnered new captain Virgil van Dijk in the heart of the Reds defence for the opening two games of the season with Liverpool starting the campaign with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before they claimed a 3-1 win over Bournemouth at Anfield last weekend.

The Reds will also be without midfield pair Thiago and Curtis Jones with the duo not set to be available until Monday, in a further selection blow to Sunday’s St James’ Park visitors.

Speaking of the club’s injury situation, Klopp said on Friday morning: "Trent, yes. Thiago is available from Monday on and Curtis from Monday on. Ibou (muscle) is a doubt. Yeah, playing for 40 minutes with 10 men didn't help.”

Klopp was referring to the red card handed out to midfielder Alexis Mac Allister in last weekend’s win over the Cherries, with that decision overturned earlier this week following an appeal to the Football Association. The player had been facing a three-game ban which would have started against Newcastle this weekend.

Asked how much of a relief it was to have the Argentinian midfielder available to face the Magpies, Klopp responded: "Massive, massive.”

He continued: “I saw the pictures back and was pretty sure it was not a red card but I was not sure if our appeal would be successful.

"You don't have a lot of times when a lot of people agree it should not be a red card. Harsh tackles should always be punished but it was not a harsh tackle. For us it was already tough enough, we were not prepared to play with 10 men. We had to fight through it."