Liverpool gains injury boost as star midfielder makes surprise return to training

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch makes surprise return to training ahead of the international break

Liverpool stars are preparing themselves for the Europa League clash against Sparta Prague on Thursday. will hope to finish the job and take another step towards claiming an unprecedented quadruple to send Jurgen Klopp off with a bang.

The Reds continue their Europa League campaign with a round-of-16 second-leg tie against the Czech champions, following a comfortable 5-1 win in the first leg last week. Despite having one foot already in the next round, the Reds are unlikely to take it easy at home.

Jurgen Klopp’s squad convened at the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday to continue their preparations for the match at Anfield later tonight. Ryan Gravenberch‘s surprise return, having not played since getting injured in the League Cup final win against Chelsea at the end of last month, is encouraging news. (h/t LiverpoolFC.com

The Dutchman was all smiles and took full part in the session, and he will now be in contention for at least a place on the bench once the international break is over. As things stand, the clashes against Sparta and Manchester United might have come a tad too soon.

The Dutchman made the move to Liverpool from German Giants Bayern Munich at the start of the 2023–24 season. In his first season, the midfielder has featured off the bench for the most part, scoring twice and providing three assists in 31 appearances. We are yet to see his best and ti is encouraging to know that there is more to come.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to rush Gravenberch back into action before he is ready. With several youngsters stepping up and with a four-goal lead to defend, it makes sense for the Dutchman to make use of the international break to build his match fitness.

Speaking on his team selection earlier on Wednesday, Klopp said:

“It’s about keeping the rhythm and keep going and don’t think about the next game on Sunday even when the opponent is Manchester United.”

Liverpool boss crucial decisions ahead of the important clashes

As Klopp prepares for the upcoming match before the March international break, he faces challenges due to injuries limiting his options. Virgil van Dijk, who did not participate in recent team training, may require rest to ensure he is fully fit for the FA Cup clash later in the week.

Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate, still recovering from a hamstring injury, was seen training individually at the AXA training centre, indicating his unavailability for the upcoming Sparta game. This leaves Klopp with only three senior centre-backs to choose from.

Despite these challenges, Mohamed Salah is expected to feature prominently, with Klopp confirming his readiness to start. The winger, who has been sidelined since January 1 due to injury, participated in training with his teammates at the AXA Training Ground on Wednesday afternoon, gearing up for his third appearance since his return.

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Jayden Danns remains away from the squad after sustaining a concussion in the thrilling win against Nottingham Forest, but Klopp has a plethora of young talent to choose from against Sparta.