Southampton vs Liverpool team news: Virgil van Dijk fit to face former club

Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk has been passed fit to face former club Southampton on Friday.

The centre-back sustained a knock to his ankle in the 2-1 win over Tottenham but has trained this week without any issues.

Fellow defender Joe Gomez and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are back in full training but are unlikely to be included yet.

Ahead of Friday’s game, Klopp acknowledged that Van Dijk’s attributes on and off the pitch have made Liverpool a better team but insisted the player is still improving.

“Yes he improved us, and I think he has improved as well since he is here,” said Klopp.

“That’s what you expect and what you hope for. If a player comes in you hope he makes the whole team better.

“That’s how good players are, and he’s obviously a very good player.

“He’s so important for us, not only as a player but as a person as well. I couldn’t say a bad word about him even if I wanted to.

“He’s a different player to the one he was at Southampton. He was good there, really good, but with all the different games he’s played now, and being part of the Champions League quarter-final, semi-final, final, all that stuff, that all helps you as a player.

“And for a centre-half he is still young, there is still a lot to come. Hopefully he can stay healthy and everything will be fine.”

Provisional squad: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Mignolet, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Lallana, Keita, Shaqiri, Sturridge, Origi.

PA