Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp offers Dominik Szoboszlai hope as Carabao Cup final looms

Liverpool could yet have Dominik Szoboszlai in contention for the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea, while Jurgen Klopp has hit back at suggestions that Trent Alexander-Arnold was brought back too soon.

Hungarian midfielder Szoboszlai has proven a huge hit at Anfield since his £60million summer move from RB Leipzig, instantly becoming a key figure and scoring five goals with four assists in 28 appearances across all competitions so far.

However, he has not featured for the Reds since scoring in the 4-1 win over Chelsea in the Premier League at Anfield on January 31, having suffered the recurrence of a hamstring injury that had seen him play only twice since a prior four-match absence.

Szoboszlai missed the 3-1 loss at Arsenal and last weekend’s home win over struggling Burnley, while he will remain sidelined on Saturday when Liverpool will hope to open up an initial five-point lead over Manchester City at the Premier League summit when they travel to face Brentford in the lunchtime kick-off.

After that Klopp’s side host Luton on Wednesday night, before facing Chelsea again in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley next weekend.

Liverpool may have Szoboszlai back for that showdown, though Alexander-Arnold will not be fit in time.

"It's a super intense period,” Klopp - named Premier League Manager of the Month for January - told reporters on Friday. “People think now about the final, absolutely, but before that we have Brentford and Luton, I'm not thinking a second about the final yet. It's a final, yes, one game, but there are two games they cannot play.

"With Dom it will be around that time [the final], we will see how that exactly how works. With Trent maybe a week or two longer so it's not great. I would say not sure if Dom has a chance for the final, but maybe. Trent will be after."

Alexander-Arnold returned from a knee problem suffered in the FA Cup win at Arsenal last month as Liverpool faced Burnley, having missed three weeks of action.

However, he quickly suffered a recurrence of the issue and was forced off at half-time, leading some to question if he had been rushed back too soon.

Klopp has pushed back on any suggestion of that, however, saying before the trip to Brentford: “A thing we have to clarify a bit. I was not really aware of it, but I got the news that there was a discussion we might have 'forced' Trent back because of two setbacks.

“Nobody wants that and nobody is doing that. Different cases, different scenarios and as long as I am here we will not force anybody back and never do.

"But we work in a high-performance area. We always try to catch the earliest moment. Unfortunately when we catch that early moment nobody speaks about that. The last decision is always with the player, but if you always listen to the player they would play after two weeks and it's a real problem.

"The boys were in the moment when they played. They were fit. But the situation told us differently because it happened again. Very unlucky and unfortunate, but it can happen. We have to bring the boys back as soon possible but never before they are ready."

Klopp confirmed that Mohamed Salah is back in contention for his first Liverpool appearance since New Year’s Day after returning to full training in the aftermath of his hamstring injury suffered while away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, while Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate are all now available again too.

However, Thiago Alcantara remains out after suffering a setback just 12 minutes into his first appearance for 10 months against Arsenal. Joel Matip and Stefan Bajcetic also remain long-term absentees.