Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has offered an update on the fitness of Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch after the pair were left out of their 22-man squad for Thursday's Europa League clash with Toulouse.
The Reds could seal a place in the last 16 of the tournament with two games to spare should they do the double over Les Violets, who they thumped 5-1 at Anfield two weeks ago to remain perfect in Group E.
Klopp named his 22-man travelling party earlier on Wednesday, which did not include known absentees Andrew Robertson, Stefan Bajcetic or Thiago Alcantara, but Van Dijk and Gravenberch were nowhere to be seen on the squad list.
Speaking to reporters in his pre-game press conference, Klopp confirmed that Van Dijk had come down with an illness, but his participation in Sunday's Premier League clash with Brentford should not be at risk.
"Virgil is a little bit ill. It will not be a big thing but we did not want to have him on the plane, if some others have it as well," the German said.
"I have it a little bit but for me it is not a problem, that's why we left him at home. He should be absolutely alright for the weekend."
Meanwhile, Gravenberch - who has registered a goal or assist in all three of Liverpool's Europa League games this term - has sustained a knock to the knee, and he will therefore not have the chance to join esteemed company on Thursday.
The last Liverpool midfielder to register a goal contribution in four successive European games was Steven Gerrard in 2008, but there is also hope that the Dutchman will be back this weekend.
Should Gravenberch not be deemed ready for the visit of the Bees, though, Klopp is confident that he will be ready for a blockbuster clash with Manchester City on November 25 following the international break.
"Ryan got a little niggle of the knee. It is not major, he was running already today, but [there was] no chance for this game. We hope there is a chance for Brentford, and he will definitely be back after the international break. That's why he's not here," Klopp added.
Meanwhile, Curtis Jones was a notable absentee from the weekend's draw with Luton Town, missing out with what was initially described as a minor fitness issue, but Klopp has since confirmed that the Englishman has damaged his hamstring.
Jones sustained the problem in last week's 2-1 EFL Cup fourth-round win over Bournemouth, but his issue is only a low-grade one, meaning that he should also be back in action before the end of the month.
"Curtis had a hamstring [injury] last week. Not massive. After the international break he will be back, but not before. [It is a] low, low-grade hamstring," Klopp added.
"He was in good shape, [got a] red card, lack of rhythm, got the Europa League games and then in the game at Bournemouth he didn't feel anything there when I took him off, but then I went in the dressing room and I think he felt a little bit the hamstring, so we made a scan. Very low grade, but it took him out."
A win for Liverpool would send them through to the last 16 if Union SG fail to overcome basement side LASK, otherwise the Reds are still at risk of being bumped down to the playoff spot. body check tags ::
