Mohamed Salah of Liverpool speaks with Hugo Ekitike during a Liverpool FC Training Session at AXA Training Centre on January 20, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)placeholder image
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool speaks with Hugo Ekitike during a Liverpool FC Training Session at AXA Training Centre on January 20, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things spotted from Liverpool training ahead of the Champions League clash against Qarabag.
Liverpool have been put through their paces ahead of their Champions League clash against Qarabag at Anfield.
The Reds head into match-day eight of the league phase knowing a victory will see them qualify for the last 16 of the competition. Arne Slot’s side’s 3-0 victory over Marseille in France last week moved them up to fourth in the standings and that’s a position that Liverpool will be desperate to retain.
Supporters will also be expecting an improved performance after a disappointing 3-2 loss at AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Liverpool held an open training session ahead of the Qarabag game. In good news for the squad, Federico Chiesa was back rubbing shoulders with the rest of his team-mates. The forward has missed the past two games because of a minor issue.
However, there was no sight of Joe Gomez, who was forced off in the first half against Bournemouth with a hip injury sustained when trying to stop the first goal. Gomez collided with goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Ibrahima Konate has been unavailable for the past two games, having been granted compassionate leave following the passing of his father. The centre-back remains absent.
It means that Liverpool could head into the encounter without five defenders as Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are ruled out for the rest of the season with respective knee injuries. Meanwhile, Calvin Ramsay cannot play because he has not been registered in the Reds’ Champions League squad. Ramsay was not sighted having been on the bench at Bournemouth while he played 66 minutes for the under-21s in a 2-1 win over Leeds United the following day.
Wataru Endo came off the bench for Gomez at Bournemouth and he could have to deputise in central defence once again.
Alexander Isak continues to recover from a broken leg while youngsters Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic (both hamstring) remain sidelined.
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