Premier League champions Liverpool have been handed a double fitness boost ahead of their crucial league encounter at North London club Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday night. The Reds were without Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip for the FA Cup fourth round exit at the hands of arch rivals Manchester United at the weekend but they are expected to return to the starting line-up for the Spurs game later this week.

Without the two players, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes came off the bench to score a fantastic freekickin the final 15 minutes of the game to lead his team to a 3-2 win at home to Liverpool. With the win, Manchester United progressed to the FA Cup fifth round where they will face in-form West Ham United.

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and centre back Joel Matip have had their fitness issues this season. Jordan Henderson has missed the last two games due to a muscle injury but he’s winning the race to return from the said injury in time for the Spurs game. For Joel Matip, he was left out of the Manchester United clash at the weekend as a precaution following his recent injury issues.

Liverpool boss JurgenKlopp was preserving him for the Spurs clash and the upcoming crucial games in the Premier League. Liverpool were the pacesetters in the English top flight in their bid to win the competition for the second consecutive season but that has suffered a massive setback with the current bad run. The Reds have not won any of their last five games in the league since they hit Crystal Palace for seven last month. The Reds were clinical on the day as they scored seven goals without any reply against Palace away from home. The run of five games without a win has seen Liverpool drop to fifth position ahead of the Spurs game later this week.