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Jurgen Klopp expects Liverpool vice-captain James Milner to be available for Sunday's Premier League showdown with West Ham at Anfield.

The Reds midfielder needed 15 stitches in his forehead after a sickening clash during last weekend's friendly against Napoli in Dublin.

However, Milner has returned to training this week and should be able to feature with the wound heavily strapped.

Klopp said: "He should be okay. He is working with a headband, all of them different colours and all of them suit him!

"It is a pretty long cut. But it is Milly so he is not really bothered about it. Heading was never his best skill but we need his head from time to time, not only for heading.

"We will figure it out. He said when the cut was open: ‘Don't think that this rules me out of next Sunday!'

"I don't decide that. It looks quite positive but I don't know yet 100%."

Klopp is hopeful that Joe Gomez will recover in time to line up alongside Virgil van Dijk at centre-back.

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The Reds boss has divided game time between left-backs Andy Robertson and Alberto Moreno in recent weeks.

Moreno was handed the honour of captaining Liverpool against Torino in midweek but it would be a major surprise if Robertson didn't get the nod on Sunday.

"In the last four games they both started two," Klopp added.

"We mixed up the intensity. It is pre-season and they all need to be ready for the games.

"Alberto scored against Napoli and against Torino he was not bad. It was clear he would get 60 minutes and Robbo would get less because he played the game before.

"That is how I prepare teams, not picking line-ups that then play together for the next four or five weeks.

"Both could play immediately - that is the good news. They both know about the guys playing next to them.

"I don't ignore how Robbo played (last season). I don't forget last year - why should I?

"I am not silly. But I cannot say that is the only thing."