It’s set to be a busy week for Liverpool as they host Leeds United on Wednesday in their Premier League game-in-hand before travelling to Wembley for next weekend’s League Cup final clash with Chelsea.
The Reds come into it full of confidence at least, after last weekend’s comeback victory over Norwich City saw them close the gap on Man City at the top of the table.
Unbeaten from their 11 matches in 2022, winning nine including their last eight in all competitions, Jurgen Klopp’s side could close the gap on Pep Guardiola’s men further to just three points if they are to beat Leeds, following City’s dramatic loss to Tottenham on Saturday.
With the Liverpool squad in good spirits in training on Monday as a result, here’s what we learned from their latest session at the AXA Training Centre.
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Firmino and Jota still sidelined
Jurgen Klopp might have confirmed Liverpool will do everything they can to help Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota return to fitness in time for the League Cup final, but they remained absent from training on Monday.
“Yes, it’s too early,” the German said when asked about Firmino and Jota’s availability.
“I don’t even know if it will be a late decision or not; how I said, it’s too early. I saw them both today, they both look great – but those two always look great.
“We have to see how the specific issues develop but we obviously will try everything.”
The Portuguese was withdrawn at half-time against Inter Milan last week because of an ankle injury, with the Brazilian coming on in his place and scoring the opening goal only to complain of a muscle issue after the final whistle.
The duo both missed the Reds’ victory over Norwich City as a result and, having been absent from training, look set to miss out on featuring against Leeds too.
Whether they are able to return to training later in the week ahead of Sunday’s trip to Wembley remains to be seen but it’s clear both Firmino and Jota both face a race against the clock to prove their fitness.
Duo train as normal
While Firmino and Jota were absent from training after missing Saturday’s win, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones were back in action alongside their team-mates.
Klopp had confirmed the full-back’s absence from his squad to face the Canaries was purely down to his own decision to rest the England international, yet his presence at the AXA Training Centre will have reassured any absent onlookers.
Meanwhile, the midfielder has been missing from the last three matchday squads since Liverpool’s victory over Leicester City, but that decision too has been down to the manager it seems.
Klopp wasn’t asked about Jones’ absence from the squad against Norwich City, but his participation in training confirms that he is fit and available.
Alexander-Arnold is almost certain to start against Chelsea at Wembley, if not Leeds, with his place in the Reds’ strongest starting XI secure, but Jones faces a busy week as he looks to catch his manager’s eye and force his way back up the pecking order.
Klopp was right about Diaz
Luis Diaz made his second start for Liverpool against Norwich, and while it was arguably his least-impressive showing for the Reds so far, he still managed to mark the occasion with his first goal for the club.
After the match against the Canaries, Klopp said the Colombian ‘should be very happy’ with his start for Liverpool, while ahead of facing Inter Milan he claimed the winger always has a smile on his face.
"We give Luis a little bit more time to adapt to it. He is an incredible player, his joy and love for football is so obvious,” the German said.
"When you see him training, he cannot stop smiling. I have never had a player like this. It's crazy. We are so, so happy to have him here. It's absolutely great.
That was certainly the case at the AXA Training Centre on Monday as Diaz was caught beaming with his pearly whites on display for all to see in every picture, be it in a shooting drill or when in the middle for a Reds rondo as the likes of Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and Virgil van Dijk passed the ball around him.
He might not speak much English so early in his Premier League career, but the evidence suggests he is very much loving life with Liverpool!
Old-school Milner is hard as nails
Making his debut as a 16-year-old back in 2002, James Milner clocked up his 800th club appearance in last week’s victory over Inter Milan.
The Reds vice-captain is very much the last of a dying breed, such is how much the life in the dressing room has changed over the past 20 years.
But as Merseyside was rocked first by Storm Dudley, then Storm Eunice and now Storm Franklin, it’s clear the midfielder is made of sterner stuff compared to his team-mates.
With it inevitably cold and windy, the entirety of the Liverpool squad were wrapped up warm for training on Monday, including the likes of Henderson and Andy Robertson, with everyone wearing long pants and the majority wearing gloves, with plenty of hats and snoods on display too.
Not James Milner.
No gloves, no hat, no snood but donning a pair of shorts for good measure, the veteran is old-school.
Never change, Milly!
