Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson to miss Liverpool's game against Cardiff

By Rory O'Callaghan

Jurgen Klopp says he looking forward to meeting Neil Warnock when Liverpool host Cardiff on Saturday

Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson will miss Saturday's match against Cardiff after failing to recover from hamstring injuries, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.

Keita suffered a strain while on international duty with Guinea earlier this month, while Henderson was substituted during the win over Huddersfield last weekend after sustaining a hamstring issue.

Both players missed the 4-0 win over Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday and Klopp has confirmed the pair failed to recover in time to face Cardiff at Anfield.

"It will not work out for them tomorrow," said Klopp in his pre-match press conference.

Image: Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson will miss the match at Anfield

"They are both in a good way but they will not be ready. That's pretty much it though - the rest, apart from [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian [Brewster], should be available."

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Cardiff head into the match on the back of a morale-boosting 4-2 win over Fulham - their first victory since returning to the Premier League.

Neil Warnock expressed his admiration for Klopp ahead of the match and the Liverpool manager says he is also a fan of his opposite number at Cardiff.

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"I'm really looking forward to meeting him, I've heard a lot about him," said Klopp. "He's obviously very talented vocal wise.

Image: Klopp says Warnock has done an 'unbelievable' job at Cardiff

"It will be a pleasure to meet him. I'm not sure during the 90 minutes but I'm sure it will be before and after.

"He is one of the most experienced managers in the world of football - so successful in the past. It is unbelievable what he did.

"My respect for the Championship grows every day pretty much. It is such a difficult league and it looks like he can do in that league what he wants.

"He got promotion which is an unbelievable achievement."

Warnock claimed Liverpool are "virtually impossible" to beat at Anfield this season but Klopp expects the match be a closely contested affair.

Image: Klopp expects Cardiff to prove tough opponents to beat

"This game is a challenge. Do we have to talk about who should win the game? If everything is usual then it should be Liverpool," said Klopp.

"But then it is football and football means they'll have a lot of moments where they can make the difference.

"In challenges, with formation, with set-pieces they are really strong. They are really creative, strong and 100 per cent concentrated."

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