Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given some team news ahead of the new Premier League season, saying that he is optimistic both Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold could start the Reds’ opening game of the season against West Ham United on August 12.

The duo had been away on World Cup duty at the beginning of the summer and have only just joined up with their team-mates for training ahead of the new season.

And despite only being back for such a short time, Klopp believes the pair will play a part in their pre-season clash with Napoli before being available to potentially appear against the Hammers in under two weeks time.

Speaking to the official Liverpool website, Liverpoolfc.com, Klopp joked about Firmino before revealing his plans for the upcoming opener.

“He changed something with his hair, I am not 100 per cent sure what. I think now it’s black? And I didn’t see it, but I heard during his holiday it was silver – but that’s the only difference.

“All the rest is like it was when he left. It’s good to have him here, he looks in good shape, and if possible we will see [if he can play against Napoli]. Training for the outfield players is obviously different than for the goalies, but we want to see him as well against Napoli. We will see for how long.

“When we start against West Ham, he will have had then two weeks after three weeks off, it should be possible but we will see until then.

“In the moment he looks good, his programme is obviously pretty different. He is part of most of the sessions when the boys do something different that is not the highest intensity, so then he needs to do a little bit more, like Trent will do now.

“Step by step, they are all coming back and it’s the best news.”

The German also spoke about Jordan Henderson’s return to the team, joking that they had to force him not to return to training early.

“It was not [possible] to stop [Trent coming back], but then without physical power it wouldn’t have been possible to keep Hendo away either,” he added.

“But Hendo is in a different situation and played much more games, played more in the World Cup and all that stuff. He is not old, but he is older than Trent, so I think it makes absolute sense he has the full three weeks and Trent has had two weeks and two days.

“Trent seems to be really relaxed and really desperate to be part of the team again, so good to have him and now we can start with him.”