Martin Skrtel pleased to have Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho back for Liverpool

Martin Skrtel has declared his delight at the return to fitness of both Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson for Liverpool. 

Henderson made his first start under Jurgen Klopp in Thursday's goalless draw with Sion in the Europa League having been out since August with a heel problem. 

Brazilian playmaker Coutinho also returned after a recent hamstring injury, and Skrtel is pleased to have the influential duo back in the side. 

The defender told the club's official website: "It's good news for us because both of them are very important players for us. 

"Hendo was out of the team for such a long time, so it's good to have him back. The same for Philippe; he was in good form before the injury. We're happy they're back and they'll definitely help us. 

"They've shown their quality so many times. I hope they can put their injuries behind them, stay fit and we see more of them on the pitch.

" Liverpool host West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Euro 2016 Draw: Roy Hodgson and Chris Coleman happy with Russia and Slovakia

THE happy smiles on the faces of Roy Hodgson and Chris Coleman revealed the truth about the draw for the Euro 2016 tournament.

Never mind a mouth-watering Battle of Britain between neighbours England and Wales, who have been squaring up to each other since 1879 and whose players meet up and down the Premier League every weekend.

Both managers were simply delighted to land up in Group B with Slovakia and Russia as the other two opponents.

It allows them to feel equally optimistic about progress to the knock-out stages without fear that their meeting in the second group game in Lens is a win-or-bust showdown.

That’s partly because of the expanded nature of this tournament, with four third-placed teams reaching the last 16 alongside the group winners and runners-up.

Just as significant is that, on current form, England and Wales should be superior to their rivals from Eastern Europe.

They avoided far tougher teams like Italy, Austria and Poland. In the case of Wales, they also missed world champions Germany, hosts France, as well as Spain.

“I feel good about it,” confessed Hodgson, whose young developing team qualifi ed with an impressive 100 per cent record.

“We are very pleased Wales have done so well, and whichever of the teams we got in that pot would be tough. Why not have a tough one close to home?”

It was far easier to say that, surveying what was a distinctly kinder draw for England than the one they landed in the group stages of their last tournament, the 2014 World Cup.

An immediate thought among many English sports fans was plain enough.

Here is a chance for England to get revenge for the disastrous defeat at home to Wales in the Rugby World Cup a couple of months ago.

Many Welshmen had the oval ball game in mind, too.

Former striker John Hartson was swift to say: “We beat them in the rugby, now we have to try to do it in the football.”

In the build-up to the draw, Wales manager Coleman had said he would prefer to avoid England because of the hype that might surround a Battle of Britain.

Afterwards, he was clearly content, saying: “It will be a great game between two good teams.

"When you get to a tournament it’s all about the 90 minutes on the day, and you just have to get that right.”

Wales begin with a match against Slovakia, captained by Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.

They are an inconsistent team without star quality.

The opener for England is against Russia in the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.

The last English national team to play there was the rugby union side who beat Australia in a World Cup quarter-final.

Russia struggled to qualify, dispensing with former England manager Fabio Capello along the way.

His successor Hodgson will say all the right things during the next few months about respect for opponents, but there is no doubt this was a favourable luck of the draw last night. Not since 1958 have three British nations and the Republic competed in the same tournament.

Then, Northern Ireland and Wales went the furthest – both reaching the quarter-finals.

Northern Ireland drew with reigning world champions West Germany, while Wales were only knocked out by Brazil, the goal scored by a 17-year-old Pele.

Yesterday’s draw pitted Northern Ireland against Germany once again, along with Poland and Ukraine.

There is every possibility they could progress to the knock-out stage.

Whether the same can be said for the Republic of Ireland is less certain.

Martin O’Neill’s team qualifi ed via the play-offs and the reward is the toughest looking of all six groups.

They face Belgium, currently ranked the No 1 team in the world, and also heavyweights Italy.

Then there is Sweden, inspired by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“It couldn’t be tougher,” said O’Neill. “I haven’t really enjoyed this draw. Effectively, we have two topranking teams in our group.”

Juergen Klopp plays down Pulis row as Liverpool scrape draw against West Brom

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says he must wait to discover the extent of Dejan Lovren's injury after attempting to play down a touchline row with West Bromwich Albion counterpart Tony Pulis.

A bad-tempered 2-2 draw at Anfield was overshadowed by an injury to central defender Lovren, who was carried off on a stretcher after being caught by Albion midfielder Craig Gardner.

Both Klopp and Pulis said afterwards that Gardner got the ball, with the injury caused by the midfielder's follow through.

There were heated exchanges between the two managers on the touchline after that, with Pulis disappearing down the tunnel at full-time without shaking the hand of Klopp, who then became embroiled in an argument with Albion assistant head coach David Kemp.

Liverpool's Dejan Lovren holds onto his knee. Photo: EPA

On Lovren's injury, Klopp said: “We don't know too much. It is a cut, everybody can see. We hope it is not too serious. We have to wait for the scan, see if it is swollen or not. I spoke to him, it felt not too bad.

“He [Gardner] played the ball, a millisecond before he hit Dejan. It was like the whole game, on the edge of everything. But he played the ball. If he didn't play the ball, we don't have to talk about this.”

Klopp insisted there was no controversy about the lack of a handshake with Pulis at the end of the match.

He added: “I wanted to go to my team. Do with this what you want. We had some words during the game.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and West Brom manager Tony Pulis Photo: Reuters

“Sometimes it takes more than a few seconds to cool down. If you want to make a big story of this, please. Usually I shake hands. I did not today, because it was not a friendly game. But I wish him all the best.”

Klopp was clearly emotional at the end of the match, responding to Divock Origi's 96th-minute equaliser by punching the air and urging the home fans to encourage the team towards victory.

At full-time, he gathered his players together to salute the Kop.

He said: “It was the best atmosphere in my time in England, absolutely great and I wanted to say thank you.”

Liverpool's manager Juergen Klopp, second left, celebrates with his players. Photo: AP

Jordan Henderson gave Liverpool the lead before Albion scored twice from corners, with Craig Dawson turning in a loose ball after goalkeeper Simon Mignolet's error, and Jonas Olsson flicking in at the near post from a Chris Brunt delivery.

Klopp added: “I don't know how many of our goals [conceded] are from set-pieces, it's something like 98 per cent.

“I said to Simon at half time, if somebody says it was your fault, it is not true, it is my fault. I want a keeper who comes out and tries for everything.”

Pulis defended Gardner over the challenge on Lovren.

Liverpool's Divock Origi celebrates the equaliser. Photo: AP

“The two worst tackles in the game were James Milner's challenge on Gardner and Martin Skrtel's challenge on Salomon Rondon. Gardner has played the ball.”

Pulis was unconcerned about the touchline confrontations with Klopp, though.

“He is animated,” the Albion boss said. “I have been animated all my life on the bench. I have no problems with that. We have come here, tried to be resilient.

“I don't think there was a booking during the game. The big disappointment was they got that goal.”

Liverpool News: Brazil ace sounds out Reds, Chelsea youngster deal, Skrtel on Henderson

Transfer target Alexandre Pato has spoken to fellow Brazilians Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho about moving to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old is currently back playing in Brazil for Corinthians, having broken through in Europe at AC Milan.

However, he moved back to the country of his birth in 2013 after a woeful struggle with injuries.

But now the forward is eyeing a return to Europe, with the Premier League top of his wishlist.

"One day," Pato told the Telegraph. "I would like to come to England because I think the championship [the Premier League] is the No1 in the world.

“I don’t think the physical part of English football would be a problem.

"When you get the ball, you need to be ready. The defenders here are very tough. I like that.

"I have spoken to Willian, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and David Luiz before. I think Brazilian players can play here. 

“You mix talent and intelligence and Brazilian players can play here."

Liverpool are fighting clubs in Italy and Germany for the signature of Chelsea youngster Ola Aina.

The 19-year-old is still under contract at Stamford Bridge, but only until the end of this season, and according to the Mirror, Aina has attracted the attentions of Napoli and Borussia Dortmund, as well as Liverpool.

The Italian club are said to have had a loan bid for the defender rejected over the summer, but the arrival of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool’s apparent resurgence may be enough to tempt the England under-21 squad member to Anfield.

Domineering centre-back Martin Skrtel has reinforced the importance of the return of Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson.

The pair started together for the first time since the Liverpool captain’s return from injury at Anfield against West Brom, although England striker Daniel Sturridge was ruled out once again, this time with a hamstring injury.

But Skrtel is nevertheless happy to welcome back two crucial midfielders.

“It’s good news for us because both of them are very important players for us,” Skrtel said.

GETTY
Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho are back from injury

“Hendo was out of the team for such a long time, so it’s good to have him back. 

“The same for Philippe; he was in good form before the injury. 

“We’re happy they’re back and they’ll definitely help us.

“They’ve shown their quality so many times. I hope they can put their injuries behind them, stay fit and we see more of them on the pitch.”

Pulis: Gardner's challenge on Lovren bad? Watch Skrtel's

West Brom boss Tony Pulis felt there were worse challenges at Anfield on Sunday, including the Liverpool centre-back's dangerous tackle on Salomon Rondon

Tony Pulis insists there were "two worse fouls" than the one from Craig Gardner which forced Dejan Lovren to be stretchered off in West Brom's 2-2 draw with Liverpool, one of which involved Martin Skrtel.

Gardner caught the Liverpool centre-back on the knee with a heavy challenge in the second half of the Premier League game at Anfield, although he appeared to get the ball.

Lovren, who was bleeding from the knee, was taken from the pitch wearing an oxygen mask but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said the defender "did not feel too bad" after the match and will face a scan to determine the extent of any damage.

However, Pulis felt both Skrtel and James Milner were guilty of worse tackles than Gardner however, telling the media afterwards: "For me there were two worse fouls.

"If you want to talk about bad fouls then what about James Milner on Gardner and Skrtel on Salomon [Rondon]? I saw the tape back and Gardner played the ball. The other two were bad - Skrtel went over the top and it's a good job Salomon moved."

Divock Origi scored from a deflected shot in the sixth minute of injury time - with Lovren's injury resulting in eight extra minutes being played - to deny West Brom a famous victory, and Pulis was left bitterly disappointed that his side could not hold on.

"I'm more disappointed that they made it 2-2. Irrespective of the power, the talent, the money, you get smaller clubs coming to places like Anfield and giving it a go," he added.

"This is a league where the small teams can do this. I'm just so disappointed we couldn't get the win.

"We've been hard-working, resilient and we gave it a go. Standing here, now, I feel disappointed. But credit to our fans, who were brilliant today."

Jonas Olsson - who scored West Brom's second goal - had an earlier effort ruled out for offside after referee Craig Pawson consulted his assistant following protests from some Liverpool players.

And Pulis said he plans to speak with the officials to ascertain the reasons behind their hesitancy.

"The big disappointment is that the linesman didn't put his flag up [at first]," he added. "They tell me he was offside so why not put the flag up? How will the referee decide if it's offside? 

"We will speak to the officials and find out. Apparently it was the right decision but it's disappointing the flag didn't go up - there was a lot of doubt and confusion about it.

"The referee pointed for a kick-off and I thought it was a goal but then it was disallowed."