Liverpool injury news: Dejan Lovren and Daniel Sturridge ruled out of Manchester United clash, Steven Caulker could start

Liverpool face United this Sunday in a crunch clash as both chase a top-four finish this season

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge (Getty Images)

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp could be forced to throw loan signing Steven Caulker into his starting line-up for this weekend’s pivotal Premier League clash with Manchester United, with Kolo Toure struggling for fitness ahead of the anticipated Anfield clash.

Klopp remains without regular defenders Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel, while Joe Gomez is out for the rest of the season while Jon Flanagan is unlikely to feature despite playing for the Under-21s this week.

Should Toure fail to recover, Klopp will be forced to throw Caulker into the starting line-up alongside Mamadou Sakho, although he could also consider deploying defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva in a makeshift centre-back role.

Liverpool will also be without Daniel Sturridge against United as the German manager ruled the striker out of making a return, despite the England international announcing on social media on Boxing Day that he was “back training and good to go”.

Find out who’s fit and who’s missing for Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United by clicking the gallery below.

With Divock Origi ruled out with a knee injury until February and doubts over Christian Benteke’s ability to meet Klopp’s demands in leading the attack, Roberto Firmino will almost certainly start the encounter as the lone striker, especially after his two goals against Arsenal on Monday.

The Reds will also be without Philippe Coutinho, with the Brazilian ruled out until February with a hamstring injury, and Danny Ings and Gomez remain long-term absentees with the English pair ruled out for the rest of the season with knee injuries.