Liverpool have seen a significant spike in injuries with three players still missing from Real Madrid

Liverpool have seen a significant spike in injuries with three players still missing from Real Madrid

Liverpool have continued their preparations for their Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Wednesday

Liverpool's England defender #66 Trent Alexander-Arnold takes part in a training session at the AXA training center in Liverpool, northwest England, on November 26, 2024, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League soccer match against Real Madrid. (Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold takes part in Liverpool’s training session at the AXA Training Center today(Picture: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Liverpool will look to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Champions League campaign when they host defending champions Real Madrid on Wednesday. The Reds are the only team to have won all four games at half-time of the revamped first half of the season and are top of the table, while their Spanish opponents have already lost twice while defending the trophy.

Arne Slot’s side were at the AXA training center on Tuesday afternoon to continue their preparations for the game, which is a repeat of the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals in which Liverpool were beaten.

But what could be learned from the session?

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Trent Boost

As Trent Alexander-Arnold left the ball alongside his team-mates, there was already a fitness boost for Liverpool before a ball was even kicked.

The right-back missed Sunday’s 3-2 win at Southampton because of the minor hamstring injury that forced him off early in the 2-0 triumph against Aston Villa two weeks earlier.

But at Kirkby he again played a full role in the training session and is now being considered for action against Real Madrid, with the team saying they are eyeing his signing next summer.

Chiesa continues

Federico Chiesa, Liverpool’s summer signing from Juventus, has still not played for the first team since September as he overcomes fitness issues and adapts to the intensity of English football.

However, the Italian took a significant step forward on his return when he returned to training with the first team on Friday.

And after a separate warm-up session with two members of Liverpool’s fitness team, a smiling Chiesa took part in the regular group training session on Tuesday.

Alisson continues to wait

Alisson Becker is another player who has been hampered by injury recently, missing since tearing his hamstring at Crystal Palace in early October.

The severity of the injury means Liverpool will not be able to return the Brazilian to action any time soon. And although he was back working in the gym last week, he was not among the group of goalkeepers who took to the pitch in Kirkby.

Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott and Jayden Danns have both returned to team training as they look for fitness following long-term foot and back injuries respectively.

Absences noted

Kostas Tsimikas, who suffered a knock to his ankle in training last week which prevented him from playing at Southampton, was also missing on Tuesday and will have to sit out for a short time, while it was, as expected, too early for Diogo Jota to get into the game come.

And with the absentee list now down to three, it meant Danns was the only Academy player involved, despite there being two additional bench spots available in the Champions League.

Trey Nyoni, the 17-year-old midfielder who has featured in two European squads this season, instead trained with the academy team ahead of their UEFA Youth League game against Real Madrid on Wednesday afternoon.

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