Liverpool have done marvelously well to keep winning matches despite having so many players unavailable through injury.
Jürgen Klopp’s understrength squad is about to face by far the hardest test of its credentials when it hosts Manchester City on Sunday.
The Reds have been without at least 10 players — and an average of 11 — for the last five matches and have somehow won them all.
What makes it even more remarkable is that the games took place in just a 15-day period and included a draining cup final with extra time and a trip to the Czech Republic.
While the injury total has remained high over the last two weeks, some key players have returned as others have moved to the sidelines.
Both Darwin Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai have featured in the last two games while Mohamed Salah made only his second Liverpool appearance since New Year’s Day on Thursday evening.
With the former duo both scoring and the Egyptian only having a goal ruled out by what appeared to be a questionable offside margin, the trio appeared in decent form.
However, the Europa League win came at a cost, with Ibrahima Konaté substituted after taking a knock early in the second half.
Klopp was inevitably asked about the Frenchman’s fitness in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
“I don’t know,” he said.
“Ibou was rather positive last night. He thought he made the right decision in the right moment. He will get scanned but we don’t have the results of that.”
The threadbare nature of the squad means that this will be the most important selection Klopp has to make for the game.
If Konaté is unavailable, does he trust rookie defender Jarell Quansah or will he give a start at right center-back to Joe Gomez for the first time this season? Each option carries a risk for a match of this magnitude.
But as much as the Liverpool boss would love to have Konaté available, he unquestionably trusts his squad. After what they have delivered in the last two weeks or so, who can blame him?
Here’s a full list of players available to the manager as the Reds look to increase their one-point advantage over City. A win would open up a four-point lead over Guardiola’s side with 10 matches to play.
Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher, Adrián, Fabian Mrozek.
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Conor Bradley.
Midfielders: Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endō,Harvey Elliott, Bobby Clark, James McConnell.
Forwards: Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez,Luis Díaz,Cody Gakpo, Kaide Gordon, Lewis Koumas.
Injured: Alisson Becker, Thiago Alcântara, Stefan Bajčetić, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joël Matip, Diogo Jota, Ben Doak, Jayden Danns.
Doubtful: Ibrahima Konaté.
