Liverpool's Matip training again after recovering from knock

LONDON: Liverpool defender Joel Matip has resumed training after shaking off a knock sustained last month while goalkeeper Alisson Becker is closing in on a return to action from a calf problem, the Premier League leaders said on Tuesday.

Cameroon centre back Matip was injured in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Sept. 28 and missed their 4-3 Champions League win over Salzburg and the 2-1 Premier League win over Leicester City this month.

The 28-year-old, who has started six league matches so far, is likely to take his place alongside Dutchman Virgil van Dijk when they visit Manchester United on Sunday.

Matip was replaced by fellow defenders Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren in the last two matches.

Brazilian Alisson trained with Liverpool's goalkeepers on Tuesday and will hope to play his first game since sustaining a calf muscle injury in their league opener against Norwich City in August.

Early pace-setters Liverpool have won all eight of their league matches so far to build an eight-point lead over defending champions Manchester City.

Manchester United are 12th in the standings with nine points, two points above the relegation zone, after their worst start to a league campaign in 30 years.