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Liverpool FC defender Daniel Agger is on the comeback trail but Saturday's crunch Premier League clash with leaders Arsenal will come too soon for the Liverpool vice-captain.

The Reds centre-back has been sidelined for the past month after suffering a calf strain in the FA Cup win over Oldham.

Agger is expected to return to full training next week and could feature when Liverpool face Arsenal again at the Emirates in the FA Cup a week on Sunday.

With Mamadou Sakho still hampered by the hamstring injury he sustained against Chelsea back in December, Martin Skrtel and Kolo Toure will remain the centre-back combination for this Saturday's showdown with Arsene Wenger's men.

“Daniel and Mamadou are not far off but I’m not expecting to have either of them back for the weekend,” boss Brendan Rodgers told the ECHO.

“They are not back full training yet. Daniel will be back at some stage next week so he’s progressing really well. But Sakho is still a bit away from coming back training.”

Rodgers and his backroom staff thrill youngsters in day out at community centre

Rodgers was at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night to watch Chelsea inflict a first home defeat of the season on title favourites Manchester City.

It means if the fourth placed Reds beat Arsenal they would move to within five points of the summit.

The manager believes the depth of the squads at City and Chelsea gives them the edge but he's confident Liverpool will still have a role to play in the title race.

“It was a really interesting game and that result keeps it all very tight and close at the top,” Rodgers added.

“Chelsea and Manchester City have two of the strongest squads in the country and they showed that the other night.

“But if you look at us, if we get three points at the weekend that takes us to 50 points and then we would only be five points behind (Arsenal).

“We will certainly play a part in the fight at the top.

“There are currently six points between us and Chelsea so there is still a lot to play for and we will be fighting right until the very end.

“If I'm asked to give an honest answer, I'd probably say that this year is too soon for us (in terms of the title). But we're professional and we want to fight to finish as high as we possibly can.”