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For the first time since Liverpool’s win over Arsenal at the end of August, fans were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday.
Following the international break, the Reds are preparing for a tricky run of fixtures that sees Arne Slot’s side face seven matches in just 21 days. With Atletico Madrid, Everton, Crystal Palace, and Chelsea among those encounters, maintaining fitness levels will be key.
So the sight of two players returning from injury will be a welcome boost for Liverpool, along with Alexander Isak spotted training with his new team-mates for the first time. Here’s what we noticed from Wednesday’s session.
Returning early
Liverpool is never shy of an engaging social media post or two, and the prospect of Isak’s first day on the job was always going to throw up content from the club’s media team.
That the Swede was pictured is intriguing, though. He was the only player on international duty who was seen in Wednesday’s images - however, it’s not impossible that others were lurking out of shot.
Either way, given Liverpool’s record signing played on Monday for Sweden and was back building fitness at the AXA just two days later is an indication he is ready to put in the utmost effort to improve his fitness levels.
Isak’s summer isolation at Newcastle means he is not at full speed just yet, while he was only capable of 18 minutes across two international fixtures over the break.
The forward is likely to be among the substitutes against Burnley on Sunday, but Slot will hope that Isak is firing on all cylinders by the time October’s break comes around.
Injury boost
Liverpool faces the very real possibility of being injury-free on Sunday, with Jeremie Frimpong spotted training with the squad on Wednesday. He has not played since the opening weekend of the Premier League season, but judging on Wednesday’s photos, he could be in line to return at Turf Moor.
Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic, who underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in June, was involved in the session. Slot opted to retain the young Spaniard as part of his squad this season despite loan interest from abroad.
Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, and Federico Chiesa were the other senior players spotted training on Wednesday. Curtis Jones was seen in a video published on social media, but did not appear in any of the images of the players training outside.
Youthful exuberance
With so many star names away, the session needed to be supplemented with a few youth-team players. In fact, as many youngsters were visible in the photos as there were senior members of the team.
Among that cohort were Jayden Danns, Kaide Gordon, Kieran Morrison, Tommy Pilling, Keyrol Figueroa, Josh Davidson, and Carter Pinnington.
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