Liverpool team news: Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita to miss out Champions League tie against Red Star

Jürgen Klopp’s side currently sit second in Group C with three points from two games

Jürgen Klopp will meet the media at Anfield on Tuesday (Getty)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed Sadio Mane is in contention for the Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade following the hand injury he suffered on international duty.

But the Liverpool boss told his pre-match press conference that Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita have been ruled out.

Klopp said it was a case of "we have to see, day by day" with Keita and added on Henderson: "He had a little hamstring injury...serious enough that he is not available for tomorrow or the weekend."

Klopp added that he is happy with the increased defensive solidity of his team, as a strong back line is “the basis for all successful football teams”.

“We had this discussion last year,” he said. “We don't concede a lot of shots on target and that's defending. It's like last year. I never had the feeling it's for granted. It's hard work. We have to really work for it and in the last game I was not the only one who felt a bit average.

“It was influenced in my case by the three big counter-attacks we had and did not finish off one. If we finish one it's done. We didn't. They had a half chance. I didn’t feel good after the game.

“Make yourself ready for all the challenges you have, face them, solve them and win a football game.”

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.

[23 October 2018 10:46 · Mark Critchley]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Jurgen Klopp's press conference to preview Liverpool's Champions League clash with Red Star Belgrade.

Klopp’s side currently sit second, having beaten Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in their opening fixture then suffered a late defeat in Napoli last time out.

Red Star, 1991 European Cup winners, held Napoli to a goalless draw in Belgrade last month before succumbing to a 6-1 defeat in Paris.

Klopp is set to speak to the media at 2.30pm. We'll have live updates from Anfield at 2.00pm.

[23 October 2018 14:00 · Mark Critchley]

Sadio Mané is expected to return for Liverpool against Red Star having recovered from a broken thumb.

The winger suffered the injury while away with Senegal during the recent international break and missed Saturday's win at Huddersfield Town.

Naby Keita is Klopp's main absentee, having returned from Guinea duty with a hamstring problem.

[23 October 2018 14:05 · Mark Critchley]

Here's the state of play in Group C...

Napoli top, Liverpool lead Paris Saint-Germain on head-to-head results, Red Star bottom.

Napoli's surprise draw in Belgrade keeps things tight.

Liverpool know six points will be needed from this double-header against Red Star in order to remain optimistic about qualification.

Should they take anything less, those final matches against Napoli and in Paris will look a lot more daunting.

[23 October 2018 14:10 · Mark Critchley]

The main question hanging over Liverpool is whether they have lost some of their attacking swagger.

Three goals in their last five game would certainly suggest so, but is this relative drought down to a challenging schedule?

Klopp side's have faced Chelsea twice, Napoli and Manchester City in that time.

Tomorrow's meeting with Group C's supposed whipping boys should, in theory, prove more fruitful.

[23 October 2018 14:15 · Mark Critchley]

Red Star winger Marko Marin has been ruled out of tomorrow's match through injury.

The former Germany international, who you may remember from a four-year spell at Chelsea, missed Saturday's Superliga 3-1 over Rad.

Left-back Milan Rodic and Jonathan Cafu, on loan from Bordeaux, join Marin on the treatment table.

[23 October 2018 14:20 · Mark Critchley]

Red Star Belgrade have made an excellent start to the season in Serbia, by the way.

Vladan Milojevic's side have dropped just two points from their opening 12 matches, drawing 1-1 with historic rivals Partizan.

Red Star are competing in the Champions League for the first time in 26 years, having lifted the European Cup in 1991.

[23 October 2018 14:25 · Mark Critchley]

Trent Alexander-Arnold will also be speaking this afternoon.

Alexander-Arnold has not started either of Liverpool's last two matches - the draw with Manchester City and win at Huddersfield - with Joe Gomez starting at right-back.

Is this a hint he will be back in the side tomorrow?

[23 October 2018 14:28 · Mark Critchley]

Klopp's here.

[23 October 2018 14:31 · Mark Critchley]

Mane OK to play? When will Keita and Henderson be available again?

JK: Sadio's good in training. He trained normal. If nothing happens he is in contention. Naby will not be available, Hendo not as well. We have to see check Naby day by day. We have to see when he's fully fit. It should not be that long.

Hendo got a little hamstring injury in the game. I understnad not too serious but serious that he is not available tomorrow or the weekend.

[23 October 2018 14:33 · Mark Critchley]

Struggling to reach top form. More to come?

JK: I understand that, maybe it's because of a post-match interview of mine.But out first job is to win football games. We compare with the best games from last season. Nobody remembers the average games.

The most important thing is to win football games. In the two draws we had in the Premier League we deserved a point, the game in Napoli we deserved to lost. That's what we have to make sure for the future.

It's about feeling right. Feeling confident. Game development. To fight in each game until the last minute. We can do a lot fo things better than we did so far but the place we have created is a really good one. Football-wise and point-wise.