Romeo Hueso of Atletico de Madrid is challenged by Kareem Ahmed of Liverpool during the UEFA Youth League match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Liverpool FC Academy on September 17, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)placeholder image
Romeo Hueso of Atletico de Madrid is challenged by Kareem Ahmed of Liverpool during the UEFA Youth League match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Liverpool FC Academy on September 17, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things spotted from Liverpool training ahead of the Premier League clash against Newcastle.
Liverpool were put through their paces for the final time ahead of their Premier League clash against Newcastle United.
The Reds could find themselves back in the top four should results go their way this weekend. A victory over the Magpies, also in pursuit of Champions League qualification, and slip-ups from Manchester United and Chelsea, may see Arne Slot’s side move back into fourth spot.
Slot held his pre-match press conference before Liverpool trained on Friday. The Reds head coach confirmed that Ibrahima Konate had returned to Merseyside following the passing of his father, while Curtis Jones was back after sickness. Konate missed three games after being granted compassionate leave, while Jones was absent for the 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag in the Champions League.
The duo were indeed spotted in training, with Liverpool’s media team uploaded footage from the session. Slot had admitted that Joe Gomez would be sidelined for successive matches, after being forced off in the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth last weekend. Gomez was not snapped at the AXA Training Centre, along with Jeremie Frimpong, who is set to be absent for several weeks with a groin injury suffered in the early stages against Qarabag.
To supplement his training squad, Slot called up several youngsters for duty. They included Amara Nallo, who came off the bench in the Qarabag triumph. With Gomez and Frimpong out, Nallo could feature on the bench against Newcastle.
Meanwhile, there was a recall for Rhys Williams. The centre-back is a forgotten man at Anfield, having come to Liverpool’s aid in the 2020-21 season when they had a defensive crisis and helped Jurgen Klopp’s side finish third in the Premier League. Williams, 24, has not left on loan having spent last term at Morecambe.
There was also an opportunity to impress for Kareem Ahmed. The 18-year-old forward has been with Liverpool since the age of six and is an Egypt youth international. Ahmed scored six goals and produced five assists in 22 appearances for the under-18s last campaign, while he’s netted once in five matches since moving up to the under-21s this term.
Versatile defender Terence Miles and striker Oakley Cannonier, both 21, also rubbed shoulders with Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Co. As did Rio Ngumoha, who made history when netted the winning goal in the 3-2 win at Newcastle last August to become the club’s youngest-ever scorer aged 16 and 361 days, Trey Nyoni and Calvin Ramsay.
Ngumoha is very much considered a first-team player while Nyoni has been on the fringes of late. The pair were handed cameos against Qarabag.
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