Jurgen Klopp provides injury update on Alexander-Arnold and Shaqiri

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Jurgen Klopp has told Liverpoolfc.com that Trent Alexander-Arnold remains a doubt to face Tottenham Hotspur as the Premier League returns this weekend.

The youngster pulled out of England’s squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro due to a back issue and reported back to Melwood for further treatment.

However, Klopp said that Trent has stepped up his efforts to be fit for the clash against Spurs at Anfield, although it remains unclear as to whether he’ll be fit enough to feature.

Klopp said: “Trent still feels his back. We are not 100 per cent sure, so we have to watch him. Trent wants to [be] 100 per cent, but we have to see.

“It is a strange one, it’s not an obvious injury that you can say something is broke or whatever, it’s just a bit annoying actually that he cannot feel really free.

“Hopefully [between] tomorrow and Thursday he can be back in full training and then it should be fine.”

The manager also provided an update on Xherdan Shaqiri’s fitness, and hopes that he will recover in time to be fully fit for the Spurs game.

Klopp said: “Shaq, since a couple of weeks [ago], has had some problems with the groin.

“He trained, not how he could train, but was still in the squad and all that stuff because we didn’t have a lot of options. Now he feels better day by day and should be fine for the weekend.”

Not having Trent available for the Tottenham would be a big blow for Liverpool. The 20-year-old has been one of the most impressive, consistent performers for the Reds this season; providing a brilliant attacking outlet and posing a huge threat to the opposition with his deliveries into the box, not to mention his brilliant defensive work.

It would be a blow to lose his pace and zest on the right hand side, and would likely mean that James Milner would deputise at right back, which is never ideal especially with players like Son Heung Min in the Spurs squad who could potentially cause him all kinds of problems.

But having Shaqiri back fit provides Klopp with a welcome boost and provides some real attacking intent from the bench. It also gives him the option to rotate the front three for the upcoming run-in domestically and in Europe as the season draws to a close.