Liverpool will be without two key players against Nottingham Forest, but Arne Slot was buoyed by the presence of three defensive options at the AXA Training Centre on Friday.
The Reds had seemingly emerged from the international break unscathed, but Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz have since both been ruled out with muscle injuries.
Liverpool’s right-back is not expected to feature in any of the upcoming seven games in 22 days, but Wirtz is anticipated to return sooner.
• READ: Which Liverpool games Bradley will miss – injury “miracle” needed
The two were, therefore, absent from training on Friday ahead of the visit of Sean Dyche’s side on Saturday afternoon, with an 20-man squad put through their paces on a cold day on Merseyside.
Alisson, Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez all train
Thankfully, though, Alisson trained as normal and will start for the first time since the trip to Galatasaray in September, with Giorgi Mamardashvili returning to the bench.
Slot told reporters on Friday that both Andy Robertson (private reasons) and Joe Gomez missed training on Thursday, but both were involved on the eve of the match to squash any doubts.
Liverpool squad in training pre-Nottingham Forest
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, November 3, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Robertson, Kerkez
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Endo, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Isak, Gakpo, Ekitike, Chiesa, Ngumoha
The Scot is in line to retain his place in the XI after being named in the last four starting lineups, though Milos Kerkez is fit and available.
With Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong both sidelined with injury, there is an opportunity for Gomez to seize, though Slot pulled the handbrake slightly when explaining the risk of minutes in quick succession.
“Joe Gomez can play [at right-back], but he has played, I think if I’m correct, two times 90 minutes throughout the whole 2025 year,” Slot said of the 28-year-old.
“So, if we want to keep him available longer it’s maybe a bit of a risk to play him seven times in 22 days.”
The lack of minutes for a player with an injury history is worrisome when cover is needed at centre-back and right-back in the coming weeks, putting more pressure on Gomez staying fit.
Currently, Liverpool have five fit defensive options across their backline, which would suggest Slot will turn to members of the academy in training and potentially in his matchday squads.
Frimpong was pictured undertaking an individual session on the outdoor pitches in a promising step forward, but he is not yet close to a return.