Liverpool are preparing for their Champions League visit to Girona on Tuesday night and Arne Slot has two injury boosts and one more setback to contend with
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Arne Slot takes a training session at the AXA Training Centre in Liverpool on December 9, 2024, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League football match against Girona
(Image: PETER POWELL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tyler Morton won't travel with Liverpool for their Champions League trip to Girona after picking up a knock in training on Monday. The Reds are flying out to Spain on Monday afternoon for their meeting with the La Liga side on Tuesday evening as they attempt to strengthen their grip on top spot of the new-look European Cup.
With Arne Slot's side leading the revamped 32-team table having won all five of their fixtures so far, there had been some suggestions that Morton might be a part of the thinking for the XI against the Spanish side as the head coach looks to keep his star men fit and firing for a busy period that sees them play six times before the end of the month, particularly with Alexis Mac Allister suspended.
However, Morton won't travel with the squad as a result of the injury, which has been described as a minor complaint, while Federico Chiesa also missed out through the illness. The Italy international played an hour of the Under-21s' 4-3 defeat to FC Nordsjaelland and scored against the Danes, but any inclusion for the Champions League fixture has now been curtailed.
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Diogo Jota trained fully with the rest of his team-mates as he stakes his claims for a first appearance in nearly two months for the Reds. The striker has been absent since Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adaraiboyo landed awkwardly on him in the 2-1 victory for the Premier League leaders at Anfield back on October 20.
Alisson Becker also took part in the action as he continues his own recovery from a hamstring tear picked up in the second half of the 1-0 win against Crystal Palace back on October 5. The Brazil goalkeeper has missed 11 games in total and would have also sat out Saturday's Merseyside derby with Everton prior to the postponement due to Storm Darragh.
However, Alisson could be in line for a recall against Girona with Slot set to update further when he speaks to the media on Monday evening. The Reds boss will be fielding questions from 6.30pm onwards, UK time, while Ryan Gravenberch has been nominated as the player up for media duties also.
Liverpool remain without Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate, who both picked up injuries in the 2-0 win over Real Madrid late last month. Bradley is thought to have suffered a hamstring problem while Konate hurt his knee in a tangle with Madrid forward Endrick in the closing stages.
No timescale has been placed on either players' recovery at this stage but the pair will be sidelined for a number of weeks., while Kostas Tsimikas also remains out with an ankle complaint.
Youngsters Amara Nallo, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha and James Norris were all involved in training on Monday afternoon.