Arthur Melo will have to wait to make Liverpool debut due to international clearance

Arthur Melo is unlikely to make his Liverpool debut in the Merseyside derby with the club doubtful he will receive international clearance in time.

The Brazil international was formally announced as Liverpool’s fourth signing of the window late on Thursday, joining on a season-long loan. Jurgen Klopp is delighted with Arthur’s arrival, as it provides much-needed midfield options.

Klopp is waiting on the outcome of scan to determine how badly damaged Jordan Henderson’s hamstring is but the manager confirmed his captain is certainly out of the clash with Everton and is expected to miss a number of weeks.

Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also sidelined with a muscle issues and Arthur had landed on Merseyside fully prepared to be involved against Everton, as Liverpool look to secure their third win of the week following defeats of Bournemouth and Newcastle.

It now seems most likely that Arthur’s first involvement as a Liverpool player will come against Napoli in the Champions League next Wednesday, by which point Thiago Alcantara is expected to be back in full training. Klopp is adamant that Arthur will be an important squad member.

Arthur was announced as Liverpool’s fourth signing and Jurgen Klopp is eager for him to play

Klopp is waiting to hear how serious Jordan Henderson’s hamstring injury is after the Liverpool star was forced off the pitch and down the tunnel during their clash with Newcastle 

Klopp said: ‘Really happy about his transfer. Arthur, my information is it will not happen until tomorrow for international clearance so we all hope it will be fine for Napoli. Great, a really good footballer, we all know that, v exiting career already and still very young.

‘He is coming in the best age. He brings rhythm really good passer safe on the ball and can bring rhythm, really good in tight areas so I like it a lot. Now it is like this, why can you loan a player like this? Because it didn’t work out 100 percent at Juventus but I like it because the potential is still there. We play differently from Juventus.’

Naby Keita (right) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also sidelined with a muscle issues

Meanwhile, Darwin Nunez will be available after serving a three-match suspension

One man who will certainly be in the squad tomorrow is Darwin Nunez, who is available after serving a three-match suspension. Klopp believes the Uruguayan has benefitted from a short spell out of the team and has learned the error of his ways against Crystal Palace.

‘He is really happy that he is not suspended because I gave him a slap on his neck as well, just that he doesn’t forget!’ said Klopp. ‘His English didn’t improve as much in these 10-15 days so I don’t know exactly but he looks like it.

‘He is in really good shape and we came through it in the last two games winning so we don’t see that as a bad thing. We try to give him some extra input physically as well as tactically. He looks really settled, more than before.’