5 things spotted in Liverpool training: Salah return, obvious absence and star's fresh look

Liverpool trained at the AXA Training Center ahead of flying to Marseille on Tuesday for its midweek Champions League fixture - and there are concerns about Arne Slot's defensive options ahead of the game

Mohamed Salah returned to Liverpool training on Tuesday after AFCON's conclusion(Image: )

Liverpool returns to Champions League action in midweek as the Reds travel to Marseille, knowing they may need to win to move into the automatic qualification places ahead of the final round of league-phase fixtures next week.

Liverpool is currently outside the top eight on goals scored and is keen to avoid the tricky play-offs next month and, potentially, two additional fixtures.

Therefore, Wednesday’s trip to France will prove hugely significant. Ahead of the match, as is common practice before Champions League fixtures, the media were invited to the first 15 minutes of training at the club’s AXA Training Centre. Liverpool.com was in attendance - and here are five things we spotted.

Return of the King

Yeah, he was back. Mohamed Salah's attendance, or lack of, was always going to be the biggest talking point from the session, after Arne Slot said on Friday he was unsure whether the 33-year-old would be back for the Marseille match. Salah was one of the last players to stride out of the first-team premises, and seemed in good spirits as he took part in training.

Back from the Africa Cup of Nations, there are bigger questions surrounding Salah, the fallout from Leeds and his long-term future, but the more immediate relief is that he is at least expected to be involved against Marseille.

Salah was back in training on Tuesday(Image: )

No Konate

With Salah back, everyone trained as expected on Tuesday, except for Ibrahima Konate. The centre-back was back in France due to family reasons, and his involvement in the Marseille match is in doubt.

Lacking defensive options

The number of defenders at Arne Slot’s disposal has, of course, been a major talking point of late, especially after Manchester City completed a deal to sign Marc Guehi on Monday. If Konate doesn’t play, that could leave Liverpool with just six defenders, one of whom is Calvin Ramsay. Slot admitted on Friday that he feels he has “better options” than the Scottish defender, which is hardly a ringing endorsement of his skill level.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez trained on Tuesday and will likely be the starting center-back partnership if Konate misses out. Interestingly, Welity Lucky did not train with the first team, as has often been the case in recent weeks.

Hugo Ekitike was sporting a new look at Liverpool training(Image: )

Logistical changes

There was a slightly different feel to the Reds’ open training. Often, long-lens cameras are needed to pick out the players, but ahead of Marseille, the players trained much closer to the assembled media.

They also went through a slightly altered routine, with the group split into three and undertaking different training stations at once. But just as the action got going and a small-sided game began, reporters were ushered away from the pitches.

“This is the bit they don’t want you to see,” joked one staff member.

Hugo Ekitike sports a fresh look(Image: )

New look

Hugo Ekitike will be hoping to get on the scoresheet back in his homeland on Wednesday, and the striker has been to the barbers since the weekend draw against Burnley. He was spotted with a freshly dyed blonde style during the latest session, a look he first adorned when he signed for Liverpool last summer.