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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Hannah Pinnock

Three things spotted in Liverpool training as key man still missing but striker returns

Liverpool were in training on Monday lunchtime ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final clash with Villarreal.

The Reds take a 2-0 lead into the second leg having scored twice at Anfield last week. An own goal in the second half followed by a Sadio Mane strike has given them a healthy advantage. Liverpool, though, know all too well about second-leg comebacks after they did the unthinkable over Barcelona at Anfield in 2019.

Jurgen Klopp's squad were put through their paces in their final training session before they head to Spain - and here is what we spotted.

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Still no Firmino

Forward Roberto Firmino will be a likely absence against Villarreal on Tuesday night as the Brazilian wasn't among his team-mates at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby. He has been sidelined with a foot injury since the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City last month.

Manager Klopp is expected to issue a further update when he faces the media in his pre-match press conference at 2pm, but on Friday he said Firmino's recovery is taking 'longer than we all thought'.

“Bobby is not a serious injury, all convinced but already takes a little longer than we all thought and Bobby as well, he will not be ready for tomorrow,” Klopp explained.

“Still didn’t train yet and we have to get further information and find a way to get him back.”

Origi returns

One player who has returned is striker Divock Origi, who missed the win at Newcastle United through illness on Saturday. The Belgium international scored the crucial winning goal in the 2-0 win over Everton at the end of last month and was a second-half substitute in the victory over Villarreal last week.

The 27-year-old could play a part in the game at El Madrigal as the Reds look to book themselves a place in the final next month.

Jones and Tsimikas train

Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas were both in training, as expected. The pair missed the first leg at Anfield through illness, but were both named in the squad for the win over Newcastle.

As Klopp may look to make further changes to the line-up heading into the latter stages of the campaign, their fitness comes as a welcome boost with the fixtures coming thick and fast.

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