Ian Doyle reports from the AXA Training Centre, where Liverpool held an open training session to the media on Tuesday lunchtime ahead of the Champions League game against Qarabag on Wednesday evening
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 27: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks on during a training session at AXA Training Centre on January 27, 2026 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, looks on during the open training session at the AXA Training Centre on January 27, 2026(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
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Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez were both absent from training on Tuesday to hand Liverpool boss Arne Slot a potential selection headache ahead of the Champions League clash against Qarabag. The Reds held a lunchtime session at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby in preparation for Wednesday's final opening stage match at Anfield, where victory will ensure a top-eight finish and direct progress to the last 16.
Gomez limped off during the first half of the 3-2 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday having suffered a hip injury when colliding with goalkeeper Alisson Becker in the process of attempting to keep out the opening goal from Evanilson.
Konate, meanwhile, has missed Liverpool's last two games and remains on compassionate leave following the death of his father.
With teenager Giovanni Leoni out for the season after ACL surgery, it left Virgil van Dijk as the only available senior centre-back during the training session.
Wataru Endo came off off the bench at Bournemouth to play the majority of the game alongside Van Dijk and is now on standby to again deputise, with Andy Robertson another possible option.
There was, though, some better injury news for Reds boss Arne Slot with Federico Chiesa taking part in the session having missed the last two games after limping out of the warm-up for last week's Champions League game at Marseille.
Conor Bradley and Alexander Isak remained absent as they continue their rehabilitation from long-term injury.
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