LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino will return to Liverpool's starting XI for Wednesday's trip to Stoke City.
Mane and Firmino were both surprise absentees from the lineup for Saturday's 1-1 draw with Premier League champions Chelsea at Anfield.
Firmino did not play at all against Antonio Conte's side, while Mane only appeared as an 89th-minute substitute and went on to have a frank exchange with Klopp at the full-time whistle over the position he was playing in.
When asked at a news conference on Tuesday whether the duo are likely to start at the bet365 Stadium, Klopp said: "Probably, but they're not the only two.
"We had to make a few changes, it makes absolute sense in this part of the season to use the strength of the squad. That means if you involve players, you have to leave a few others out and that's what we did. But it's not completely unlikely that they will start."
Emre Can could also return to the Liverpool team after missing the Chelsea game with a muscular problem, while Dejan Lovren will face a fitness battle as a result of the injury that sidelined him at the weekend.
"Dejan probably will be close," Klopp added. "It is not a big thing. It's a little bit of swelling and we have to figure out what it is exactly. He will try to run in a few minutes, I spoke to him a second ago.
"Emre is back, it was not a big thing but it was big enough that he could not play the last game. He is back and it is a full squad, for sure."
Liverpool lie sixth in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Stoke, trailing leaders Manchester City by 14 points.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino conceded on Saturday that it will be nearly impossible for Spurs, who are fifth, to overhaul Pep Guardiola's side.
Klopp also says City could run away with the title if they maintain their excellent form, but added Liverpool can apply pressure on them in the hope they start to slip up.
"As long as they win, nobody else has a chance," he said. "If they stop winning and other teams are then in a good moment then pretty much each distance, points-wise, is possible that you can still get them.
"But I don't care about that in the moment. I'm not sure if other teams are doing it. We want to have the next three [games as wins] then the next three and then the next three because if anybody struggles then you need to be there.
"But not for us in this moment because we are too far away, of course. If they keep on going like this then nobody has a chance and it's already decided."