Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa have returned to training and are ready to give their Liverpool team-mates a real boost by returning to the starting XI for the much-anticipated Merseyside derbies.
Alonso missed Liverpool's disappointing draw at Stoke City last weekend due to a deep cut in his instep that required seven stitiches and left him unable to train. The injury had been sustained in the previous week's FA Cup third round victory over Preston North End, meaning Lucas had to cover for him against Stoke.
Arbeloa had missed the Reds' last four games because of a troublesome hamstring strain, but is now set to reclaim his spot at right-back for the upcoming visits of Everton to Anfield, with Jamie Carragher having shuffled across the back four to cover for his absence.
"I am back training. I had the stitches taken out on Monday," Alonso told The Liverpool Echo today.
"I’m still a little bit sore in that area but right now I am able to play with the inside of my foot but my instep will be okay for Monday."
Should Daniel Agger recover in time from the calf problem which saw him sidelined for the Stoke game, then the only first-teamer unavailable when manager Rafa Benitez selects his side to take on the Toffees on Monday will be left-back Emiliano Insua, who is on duty with Argentina at the South American Under-20 Championships.
Benitez himself is expected to be fit enough to oversee the game from the bench after undergoing a third operation for kidney stones this week in hospital.
Alonso missed Liverpool's disappointing draw at Stoke City last weekend due to a deep cut in his instep that required seven stitiches and left him unable to train. The injury had been sustained in the previous week's FA Cup third round victory over Preston North End, meaning Lucas had to cover for him against Stoke.
Arbeloa had missed the Reds' last four games because of a troublesome hamstring strain, but is now set to reclaim his spot at right-back for the upcoming visits of Everton to Anfield, with Jamie Carragher having shuffled across the back four to cover for his absence.
"I am back training. I had the stitches taken out on Monday," Alonso told The Liverpool Echo today.
"I’m still a little bit sore in that area but right now I am able to play with the inside of my foot but my instep will be okay for Monday."
Should Daniel Agger recover in time from the calf problem which saw him sidelined for the Stoke game, then the only first-teamer unavailable when manager Rafa Benitez selects his side to take on the Toffees on Monday will be left-back Emiliano Insua, who is on duty with Argentina at the South American Under-20 Championships.
Benitez himself is expected to be fit enough to oversee the game from the bench after undergoing a third operation for kidney stones this week in hospital.
No comments:
Post a Comment