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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Ibrahima Konate absence explained and four things spotted in Liverpool training

Liverpool will aim to seal their place in the last eight of the Champions League when they take on Inter Milan on Tuesday.

The Reds will take a 2-0 lead from last month's round of 16 first leg into the return match against the Serie A champions at Anfield.

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

But what could be gleaned from the session?

Trio step it up

Klopp had revealed earlier in the day Thiago Alcantara, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino had all returned to training on Sunday.

And the trio were all involved at Kirkby ahead of the Champions League clash.

Liverpool are likely to err on the side of caution with both Thiago, back after missing three games with a hamstring problem, and Firmino, out since the first Inter game following a muscle complaint.

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Matip, though, appears able to step right back in having missed Saturday's win over West Ham United through illness.

Konate missing

There was, however, one notable absentee from those working at the AXA Training Centre.

Ibrahima Konate, who has started the last two games, was not among those spotted.

*Select your LFC team for tomorrow:

It is understood the player has not suffered any major injury setback and was instead kept inside as a precaution.

And having impressed in Italy three weeks ago in the first leg, Konate will be keeping his fingers crossed he is available for the Inter return.

Williams and Karius

Rhys Williams hasn't featured for the Liverpool first team since last May.

But having returned early from a loan spell at Championship side Swansea City in January, the centre-back was once again involved at Kirkby having been added to the Champions League 'B' squad.

Loris Karius was also part of the session, despite not being included in the Reds' Champions League squad.

The goalkeeper will leave Liverpool when his contract expires this summer.

Strength in depth

Klopp believes he has never before had such a plethora of options at his disposal while at Liverpool.

And that was evidenced by, Konate aside, every other senior squad member being in the session.

Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones have been among those to fail to make even the bench in recent weeks.

With a maximum of 23 allowed in a Champions League matchday squad, there will again be several major names not making the cut on Tuesday evening.

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