Curtis Jones returns, who missed out and media storm - five things spotted in Liverpool training

The Reds were put through their paces as usual ahead of the Champions League encounter at Anfield - Liverpool.com was among the outlets in attendance before the seismic encounter

Five things spotted from Liverpool training ahead of PSG clash

Liverpool trained on Monday ahead of its mammoth Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

The European champions lead 2-0 from the first meeting in Paris last week and Virgil van Dijk has called for a stirring response from the Anfield crowd if the Reds are going to overturn that deficit on Tuesday in the second leg.

History would suggest, however unlikely that seems, Liverpool is capable of pushing its performance levels to new heights for a European night under the lights. As Arne Slot’s side put in its final preparations, Liverpool.com was among the outlets present at the AXA Training Centre. Here’s what we spotted.

Unexpected involvement

Normally, the players emerge in drips and drabs for these open training sessions, but on this occasion, the team emerged in one group. Were they trying to portray a united front, or was this change a little less coordinated?

Either way, it made ticking off the various names difficult. All eyes were scanning for Curtis Jones - and most didn’t spot the midfielder emerge with the group. Indeed, one reporter stationed around 50 yards away mistook him for Kieran Morrison.

However, Jones was indeed involved in the session, just two days after Slot said he did not expect the 25-year-old to have recovered in time from a groin issue. The Liverpool head coach is expected to provide an update in Monday’s press conference, where he will be speaking alongside Dominik Szoboszlai.

Curtis Jones trained with Liverpool despite suffering a groin injury on Saturday

Who else trained?

As expected, there was no Alisson, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni or Wataru Endo, while Calvin Ramsay and Morrison were also not involved.

Of the 20-man group that trained, Alexander Isak took part after making his long-awaited return from injury last week, while Rio Ngumoha also trained two days on from his goalscoring exploits at Anfield.

Seismic encounter

If the significance of this match needed to be underlined, the huge media presence at the AXA Training Centre certainly provided it. For certain training sessions this season, there has been a small group of reporters. This time, in addition to local journalists, there was a large contingent of international press organizations in attendance.

Unsurprisingly, many could be heard conversing in French on a mild spring afternoon in Kirkby, while the presence of reporters from the Times and Telegraph was a reminder this is no ordinary fixture.

There was a relaxed atmopshere at Liverpool training

Calm before the storm

Despite the media build-up to this epic fixture, the players cut relaxed figures during the session. As the group emerged as one, it was a little more down to business than usual - there were no shots into an empty goal while waiting for others, or keepy-ups, that often precede training sessions.

After a quick warm-up, which included players hurling weighty medicine balls back and forth, there was a rapid keep-ball drill at the far side of the pitch, before the assembled journalists were ushered out.

Frimpong pingpong

Jeremie Frimpong enjoyed an impressive outing against Fulham on Saturday, but Monday’s session wasn’t quite as successful. After struggling to regain possession in the keep-ball drill along with Rio Ngumoha, Frimpong immediately misplaced a pass after coming out of the middle, meaning it was his turn to once again hunt after the ball.

As the Dutch international booted the ball away in mock outrage, Andy Robertson roared with laughter. It was all fun and games in Kirkby; at Anfield, the serious business begins.