Liverpool midfield trio missing and four other things spotted in training ahead of Spurs

Liverpool were back in training on Friday ahead of their trip to Tottenham Hotspur this weekend. The Reds returned to winning ways in their last outing at home to Napoli, but lost James Milner to a concussion with Jurgen Klopp already confirming his vice-captain will sit out Sunday’s trip to the capital.

 As a result, the veteran did not take part in Friday’s training session with his manager also revealing that concussion protocol means he won’t be back in full team training until Tuesday at the earliest. However, Milner wasn’t the only player missing as Klopp’s squad were put through their paces in their latest training session.

 Here’s what we spotted from the AXA Training Centre. Naby Keita was also missing from the pictures released on Friday as he continues his own return from long-term injury. A mixture of illness and a serious thigh injury mean the Guinean hasn’t played for Liverpool since July’s Community Shield win over Man City.

The 27-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, did return to full team training towards the end of last month, but the Reds were always going to tread carefully with his return. The likes of Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain enjoyed a couple of weeks of training at least before returning to matchday squad action.

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With the reason behind Keita’s absence unclear, it’s possible he was undergoing an individual session, as was the case with captain Jordan Henderson on Monday. Whatever the explanation, he’ll be lacking match fitness regardless as the Reds continue to manage his return carefully with it looking increasingly unlikely that he’ll feature before the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Joel Matip was also still absent, with Klopp previously saying he could return to training before the World Cup, along with long-term absentees Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and midfielder Arthur Melo.With the reason behind Keita’s absence unclear, it’s possible he was undergoing an individual session, as was the case with captain Jordan Henderson on Monday.

 Whatever the explanation, he’ll be lacking match fitness regardless as the Reds continue to manage his return carefully with it looking increasingly unlikely that he’ll feature before the World Cup. Meanwhile, Joel Matip was also still absent, with Klopp previously saying he could return to training before the World Cup, along with long-term absentees Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and midfielder Arthur Melo.

<strong>Big week for Ox</strong>

It could be a big week for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the Champions League group-stages now out of the way, with his European ineligibility no longer breaking up his matchday squad appearances following his own return from injury. He made his first appearance of the season as a substitute against Nottingham Forest last month, and will be hoping for further minutes in the upcoming days before the mid-season break for the World Cup.

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First up for the former Arsenal midfielder is long-serving foes Tottenham, while he’ll be hoping to make his first start of the season at home to Derby County in midweek in the League Cup. Then Oxlade-Chamberlain’s former club Southampton make the trip to Anfield next weekend in the final match before the World Cup as the 29-year-old looks to make up for lost time ahead of making the most of a mid-season training camp in Dubai.

<strong>World Cup hopefuls</strong>

With the start of the World Cup now little over two weeks ago, a number of hopefuls will be looking to secure their places in their respective nations’ squads and avoid injury over the upcoming fortnight. Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Harvey Elliott, Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Thiago Alcantara, Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho all have varying chances of competing in Qatar this winter.

Fortunately, all of the outfielders were pictured fighting fit in Friday’s session.Young duo involvedStefan Bajcetic and Bobby Clark also took part in first team training once again on Friday as they continue to enjoy their first tastes of senior football this season. Having impressed in the youth ranks, the young Spaniard came off the bench to make his fourth appearance of the season against Napoli.

 Meanwhile, Clark made his debut against Bournemouth back in August and has added a further four matchday squad appearances. With Milner missing, the pair could be on standby for a call-up for the trip to Tottenham while both will be eyeing up potential appearances against Derby next week.