Luis Diaz comeback latest as five players missing from Liverpool training

Luis Diaz comeback final with five players absent from Liverpool training

Liverpool continued their preparations for Saturday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth

Liverpool will be looking to maintain the Premier League’s resurgence when they face Bournemouth at lunchtime on Saturday.

The Reds enter the game with four of five home victories, beating the Cherries 9-0 at home in August. Jurgen Klopp tested his players in snow-covered Kirkby on Thursday afternoon as preparations continued for the game at the Vitality Stadium.

But what could be deduced from the session?

There were some suggestions earlier in the week that Luis Diaz should step up his rehabilitation enough to be included in the squad for Saturday’s game.

There were some suggestions earlier this week that Luis Diaz should step up his rehabilitation enough to be included in the squad for Saturday’s game. However, Liverpool remain cautious about the condition of the Colombian full-back, who has not played since injuring his first knee at Arsenal in October.

And having not trained with the team on Wednesday, Diaz was once again absent for the whole session with a comeback after the international break now looking the more likely.

Lost Quartet

Diaz is the only significant absence from the session. Thiago Alcantara remains sidelined after missing the last six games with a hip problem.

Neglected threesome involved

Despite the missing players, the increased overall availability of first-team players prevented many from making the bench against Manchester United at the weekend. However, all were on the pitch at Kirkby, including Naby Keita, who had already missed last week’s midweek home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers by a stroke.

Arthur Melo and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the other big names who were not among the substitutes on Sunday, also took part in the session.

luck of youth

As usual, there were still opportunities for some young players to train with the first team.

The absence of Gomez and Phillips made Rhys Williams the next centre-back behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip.

And in goal, alongside Adrian and Alisson Becker, Marcelo Pitaluga and Harvey Davies were put to the test. Caoimhin Kelleher was not photographed.

PRESS CONFERENCE: Jürgen Klopp on the news of Thiago Alcantara, Luis Diaz and Joe Gomez Fitness

Jurgen Klopp has given an update on the fitness of Thiago Alcantara, Luis Diaz and Joe Gomez.

The trio will not be available for Liverpool’s lunchtime Premier League game at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, but they are close to returning to action.

Elsewhere, the Reds have no new injury worries ahead of the trip to Vitality Stadium.

Klopp said in his pre-match press conference: “All three are unavailable [this weekend].

“Different stages, I would say. Joey may be able to train earlier in the week; Luis I hope next week. After the international break it is obviously possible for both.

“Thiago we’ll see. None of them have trained with the team yet and we’ll see how it develops in the coming weeks and we’ll know more.”

“Other than that, nothing [news] I’ve heard of since the last game.”