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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Four things spotted in Liverpool training as Fabinho absent and three players return

Liverpool will aim to bounce back from three successive Premier League defeats when they return their focus to Europe on Tuesday.

The Reds will be in Budapest for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Bundesliga title contenders RB Leipzig.

Jurgen Klopp put his players through their paces at Kirkby on Monday afternoon ahead of the fixture.

But what could be gleaned from the session?

Keita catches everyone out

There was a significant surprise when the Reds squad trotted out at the AXA Training Centre.

Among the number was Naby Keita, who has been absent since before Christmas with a hamstring injury.

Keita took full part in training and was sporting a beaming smile for much of his time on the training pitch.

The midfielder won't travel with the squad to Budapest. But Liverpool will benefit from his imminent comeback.

Duo swiftly back

There were two other players making a welcome return.

New signing Ben Davies was struck by Liverpool's centre-back curse when he missed the weekend defeat to Leicester City with a knock.

And Divock Origi also didn't travel to the King Power Stadium due to a slight hamstring issue.

Both, though, are back and likely to be in the travelling party to Hungary.

Fabinho concern continues

It wasn't all good news, however.

Fabinho was once again absent having sat out the Leicester loss with a minor muscle issue, and now faces a race against time to be fit for Saturday's Anfield derby against Everton.

James Milner, too, failed to appear having limped off early on at the weekend with a hamstring complaint.

And there was again no sight of goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. injured since playing in the 1-0 home defeat to Brighton at the start of the month.

Klopp in control

Perhaps the greatest reassurance for some Liverpool fans didn't come from any of the returning players.

Instead, it was the sight of Klopp joining his squad and staff to oversee the session.

The Reds boss curiously finds himself the favourite with bookmakers to be the next Premier League manager to leave his job.

Klopp, though, is far too concerned with helping turn around Liverpool's stuttering season.

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