Isak role, injury worry and youth players step up - 4 things spotted in Liverpool training

Liverpool.com was among the outlets present at the AXA Training Centre as the Reds put in their final preparations ahead of the Champions League clash against Galatasaray

Five things spotted from Liverpool open training ahead of the Champions League clash against Galatasaray

Liverpool trained at its Kirkby base on Tuesday ahead of the midweek Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Galatasaray.

The Reds need to overturn a one-goal deficit if they are to progress to the quarter-finals, with Arne Slot’s side returning from Turkey with a disappointing 1-0 defeat last week. Following the hapless draw against Tottenham on Sunday, the significance of the second leg, and Liverpool’s continued Champions League participation, has been dialled up a notch.

Despite that pressure, training was a light-hearted affair ahead of Wednesday’s game. The AXA Training Centre hosted a variety of Turkish media outlets for the 15-minute session, and Liverpool.com’s Michael Plant was among the local reporters in attendance. Here are five things he spotted.

Main man missing

Joe Gomez was the only notable absentee from the senior squad at Kirkby. The defender played the full 90 minutes against Spurs and it’s unclear if he has sustained a knock, or if his minutes are just being managed given his recent injury record. Slot is expected to provide an update in his press conference later on Tuesday.

Who trained?

There were 19 first-team players in training on Tuesday. Andy Robertson, who is set to conduct the pre-match press conference at Anfield, was among them. Alisson and Federico Cheisa also trained despite their recent selection issues, while Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni were among the younger participants. Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo remain absent with long term-injuries.

There was a healthy turnout from Liverpool's players during the open training session at Kirkby

Youthful look

Slot turned to four Under-21 players to boost numbers in the session. With the Reds’ youth team playing on Monday, several more recognizable names were not involved, such as Kieran Morrison and Calvin Ramsay. The latter is ineligible in the Champions League, while Morrison is still expected to claim a spot on the bench against Galatasaray.

But Joe Bradshaw, Kareem Ahmed and Lucas Pitt stepped up from the youth team, as did Jay Spearing, who is registered as an overage player for the Under-21s. The younger trio were involved in the warm-up, before they and Spearing stepped out when the team moved on to a keep-ball drill. Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman switched from the goalkeeper group at that point, although Alisson remained with the goalkeeping coaches.

Welcome sight

The first player out on the grass was certainly noteworthy for Liverpool. Alexander Isak was put through his paces by club staff as he closes in on a return from a broken leg that has kept him sidelined since December.

Isak was spotted training by himself as he continues his recuperation from a broken leg

Isak has not progressed to ball work yet, but there is hope he could be ready to play some part for Liverpool after the March international break. The Swedish forward exited the session just as Liverpool’s players made their way onto the pitch. Should there be another Champions League training session, Isak will no doubt hope to play a full role.

Time for change

It was a bright and breezy day in Kirkby, a sign that spring has very much arrived. On St Patrick’s Day, the players were dressed in emerald green, and the atmosphere among the group wasn’t representative of the forlorn mood that has gripped the club over recent months.

Slot will hope that as the weather begins to turn, so too can Liverpool’s fortunes. If Tuesday’s keep-ball drill was certainly played at the breakneck speed one would expect of an elite side. Converting that to on-field performances has been this season’s perennial challenge, however.