Liverpool have welcomed back some injury doubts ahead of the Premier League run-in, but Jurgen Klopp’s side still aren’t quite at full-strength.
The Reds have powered through despite losing a number of big names at various points in the season, and remain very much in the title race with 10 games remaining. Next up is a meeting with Brighton on Sunday, the first of three games in a week for the 2019-20 champions.
It’s also one of just 10 league games left for manager Klopp, who will leave Anfield at the end of the season. He has welcomed back some of his squad members after the international break, but they haven’t been completely unscathed over the last week.
There are some positives, though, with his players overcoming a couple of scares. Here’s what Mirror Football has spotted from the latest training photos ahead of the weekend’s action.
1. Still no Alisson
You have to go back to February 4 for the last time Alisson appeared in a Liverpool shirt. A hamstring injury has kept the goalkeeper out of Liverpool’s last four league games, as well as both Brazil matches in the international break.
There was no sign of the former Roma number one in the latest training session, and he still appears to be some way from a return. Mid-April is the target, which would mean Caoimhin Kelleher continuing to deputise for the upcoming Premier League match against Manchester United on the seventh of the month.
2. Nunez and Salah looking ready
Uruguay international Nunez played the full 120 minutes against Manchester United before the break. He appeared to be feeling the effects of that game, sitting out international duty, but he was all smiles in this week’s training photos, as was fellow forward Mohamed Salah – recently back to fitness himself and allowed to skip Egypt’s games.
The former Benfica star has three goals and an assist in his last four games, with a return of 10 league goals already more than he managed last season. Klopp will no doubt welcome the luxury of choice up front, even with Diogo Jota out injured.
3. Gravenberch back in contention
Summer signing Ryan Gravenberch has had an up and down season. There have been some eye-catching performances, especially in Europe, but he’s still waiting to score his first Premier League goal.
A stop-start campaign due to injury hasn’t helped, and the Dutchman’s latest setback has kept him out since the end of February. He’s back at an ideal time, though, especially with fellow midfielders Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago all out of action.
4. Left-back questions
The injury sustained by Andy Robertson on international duty is, thankfully, not as bad as first feared. The left-back had a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a shoulder injury while away with his country in the autumn, but the issue sustained in the defeat to Northern Ireland appears less serious.
There was also no Kostas Tsimikas, though his absence might not be injury-related. The Greek international played 120 minutes for his country on Wednesday as they lost their Euro 2024 play-off, and Klopp will have a decision to make on whether to start the 27-year-old on Sunday.
5. Youngsters raring to go
Liverpool teenager Kieran Morrison joined first-team training.
