Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp Getty

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Jordan Henderson, Jordan Ibe and Mamadou Sakho are all fit for the Premier League clash against Manchester United on Sunday (17 January) after the trio returned to action during the midweek draw with Arsenal. The Reds boss, meanwhile, says that Kolo Toure "is still in the ice bath" and refused to give an update on the situation of Daniel Sturridge.

"Jordan Henderson is OK, Jordan Ibe is OK, Mamadou Sakho is OK. Kolo is still in the ice bath," he said, as quoted by The Mirror. When asked about Sturridge return, he said: "No update." Klopp, meanwhile, made no comments on Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel and Philipe Coutinho, but the trio are expected to miss the game.

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The former Borussia Dortmund manager admitted the game against the Red Devils will be special, paying tribute to both Sir Alex Ferguson and the under-scrutiny Louis van Gaal.

"I had really good moments with Sir Alex," he revealed. "It was an honour to talk with him.
Maybe he's greatest ever – the John Lennon of football."

While speaking about the current United boss, he added: "I am not too close with the news about United. Van Gaal is one of the most successful managers in the world."

"Louis van Gaal and I are different, but that's normal – I think I'm different to most people in this room. I don't know Louis too well but we have met a few times and had a few intensive games, that's for sure," he said. "We both want to be successful and both need to do a lot of work to be successful, and that's what we'll try. It's a different idea of football but I wouldn't say we have the better idea, it's only another one. It's always about possession and in a few small things we are different characters. He has more experience; I am maybe a little bit more lively on the sideline! We have to trust our players.

Klopp also lavished praise Roberto Firmino after the Brazilian forward enjoyed his best Liverpool performance to date against Arsenal, scoring a brace as his side grabbed a point.

"Everyone needs time. Sometimes we couldn't change when we wanted," the boss added. "He's in a good moment. He's not just a big team player."

Daily Mirror recently reported that the Premier League giants have reached a pre-contract agreement with Schalke centre-half Joel Matip to get his services on a free transfer in the summer, as the Cameroonian international is out of contract in Gelsenkirchen at the end of the campaign.

But asked about the deal, Klopp said: "There is nothing to say about it. If and when something is fixed you will be the first to know."

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