Liverpool were handed a mixed update on the fitness front as they trained at the AXA Training Centre on Monday afternoon ahead of their Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
Alexander Isak remained absent from the session as he continues to recover from a groin issue, while Curtis Jones offered a welcome boost by taking part after missing the last two fixtures.
The Sweden international has not featured since being substituted at half-time during the 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt a fortnight ago, having complained of discomfort in his groin. Isak, who joined Liverpool in a record-breaking summer move from Newcastle United, now faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Manchester City.
It marks a frustrating start to life on Merseyside for the striker, who had only just built up to completing 90 minutes before this latest setback.
The 25-year-old has been limited to just a handful of appearances under Arne Slot and has struggled to find rhythm due to his interrupted preparation.
Slot and his coaching staff put their players through a sharp, high-tempo session in Kirkby on Monday, with Jones among those involved after overcoming a minor groin injury.
The midfielder, 24, has been sidelined for the last two games but is now in contention to return to the matchday squad for Tuesday’s visit of Real Madrid to Anfield.
Liverpool were also without goalkeeper Alisson Becker and full-back Jeremie Frimpong, both nursing hamstring problems. Centre-back Giovanni Leoni remains out for the rest of the campaign following ACL surgery.
In the absence of several senior figures, a number of Academy players were drafted in to supplement the session, including Kaide Gordon, Wellity Lucky, Calvin Ramsay and teenage midfielder Tommy Pillin.
The Reds currently sit on six points from their opening three Champions League group-stage games, trailing Real Madrid, who have maintained a perfect record so far in this season’s competition.
Slot’s side head into Tuesday’s tie on the back of a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend a result that ended a difficult run of form and lifted some of the pressure that had been building around the Dutchman. Ryan Gravenberch, who returned from a twisted ankle to score Liverpool’s second at Anfield, is expected to start again against the Spanish champions.
The Liverpool boss is expected to deliver a more detailed update on his squad’s fitness situation when he faces the media later this afternoon at 3:30pm, alongside Gravenberch.
For Isak, the priority will be to return to full training later this week in the hope of featuring at the Etihad on Sunday. His adaptation to Slot’s system has been stop-start, but Liverpool remain convinced of the long-term impact the Swede will make once his fitness issues are behind him.
For now, the focus turns to Real Madrid a familiar foe, and a litmus test for a Liverpool side still seeking consistency and momentum in Europe.
