Todd Cantwell available for Norwich’s clash with Liverpool

Norwich City v Gillingham – Pre-Season Friendly – Carrow Road
(Image credit: Nigel French)

Norwich expect to have midfielder Todd Cantwell available after an ankle problem for the Premier League opener against Liverpool.

Poland winger Przemyslaw Placheta is not yet fully fit after struggling with the consequences of a positive Covid-19 test, but there are no other isolation issues within the squad after a recent outbreak at the club.

Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk is in contention for his first appearance since a season-ending knee injury in October.

Manager Jurgen Klopp’s other major decision will be who to pair him with as Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are both fit after their own injuries while new signing Ibrahima Konate has impressed in pre-season.

Midfielders Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are only a week into their delayed pre-season, so are only likely to be on the bench while left-back Andy Robertson’s ankle injury means Kostas Tsimikas is set for his first league start a year after joining the club.

Norwich provisional squad: Krul, Aarons, Gibson, Hanley, Giannoulis, McLean, Gilmour, Dowell, Cantwell, Rashica, Pukki, Gunn, Zimmerman, Omobamidele, Mumba, Rupp, Sorensen, Lees-Melou, Hernandez, Hugill, Sargent, Tzolis.

Liverpool provisional squad: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Milner, Keita, Salah, Jota, Mane, Kelleher, N Williams, Gomez, Konate, Davies, Henderson, Thiago, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Elliott, Firmino, Origi, Minamino.