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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Tom Cavilla

Three things spotted in Liverpool training as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk return but duo absent

Liverpool have been gearing up for their final Premier League fixture of the 2021/22 season as the Reds prepare for the visit of Wolves on Sunday afternoon.

As was the case in 2019, Jurgen Klopp's side take on the West Midlands side at Anfield knowing there is a chance they could be champions come the full-time whistle. Liverpool did their part three years ago by getting the better of Wolves, though Manchester City's 4-1 away win at Brighton confirmed their champions status.

It's not only the top-flight title up for grabs in the next week, however, with the Champions League final in Paris still to come next Saturday. The Reds will need to be at their very best as they take their quadruple hopes into the final stretch of the campaign.

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Klopp's men must first focus on the task in hand this weekend before looking ahead to the possibility of claiming a seventh European Cup, though the players appeared to be in high spirits despite the pressurised situation they find themselves in.

Here are three things we spotted in first-team training at the AXA Training Centre as the players were put through their paces at their Kirkby base.

Salah and Van Dijk return

After playing no part in Tuesday night's win over Southampton, both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk returned to training this afternoon. It remains to be seen as to whether or not Klopp will choose to risk the duo on Sunday, though their availability will come as a welcomed boost for the side regardless.

Speaking in his press conference today when asked about those two and Fabinho, Klopp said: "Looks all good. What we do with them for the weekend, I have no idea. We actually understand 100% the goalscoring battle with Son Heung-Min, but there's no chance we take any risk. Mo doesn't want to take any risks, I've no doubt about that.

"It looks good and the boys have made steps, but we will see. My preferred solution is they would play at the weekend for rhythm reasons, or at least be on the bench so we could bring them on, but if not then we take it from there. I cannot say 100%."

Fabinho and Gomez absent

Two key players may be back for the Reds in the form of Salah and Van Dijk, though a separate duo remain out of action as a result of recent injuries sustained. Indeed, Joe Gomez and Fabinho were seemingly not present at the AXA Training Centre and could therefore be considered doubtful to make appearances against Bruno Lage's side on Sunday.

Fabinho was forced off in a 2-1 win over Aston Villa on May 10, meanwhile Gomez suffered a heavy knock during a tense affair on the south coast earlier this week. Issuing an update on the latter at today's press conference, Klopp said: "Joe is first and foremost good news. Yesterday we had a reassuring further scan, but like we and he thought after the game, we were lucky. It was a proper knock but nothing happened."

Relaxed mood

It has been an extremely hectic season for Liverpool, who have been fighting on four fronts since the get-go of 2021/22. The unrelenting nature of the footballing calendar may well have caught up with the team of late, given the recent injuries sustained, but the team appeared relaxed as ever while putting in their preparations for the remaining two fixtures of this term.

That the players are able to cope so well under such intense pressure is testament to the culture of the club Klopp has created since his arrival back in October 2015.

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