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Mohamed Salah answers major Liverpool question as key player absent from training

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on May 2 2024
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on May 2 2024 -Credit:John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images


Liverpool will hope to finish the season with a flourish when they entertain Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in Jurgen Klopp's penultimate home game in charge.

The Reds could be mathematically out of Premier League title contention and cemented in third place by the time they take to the field against the Londoners.

Jurgen Klopp's squad convened at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday to continue their preparations for the match at Anfield. But what could be gleaned from the session?

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Salah all smiles

The big talking point following Liverpool's draw at West Ham United on Saturday revolved around the spat between Mohamed Salah and Klopp, swiftly prompting rumours the Egyptian was on his way in the summer.

The Reds didn't regard the touchline tiff as a particularly serious matter and are planning for Salah to be part of new manager Arne Slot's squad for next season.

And, sure enough, Salah was pictured smiling away in trademark fashion during the session on the pitch at Kirkby.

No captain

There was one player conspicuous by his absence at the AXA Training Centre.

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk, who has played every minute in the Premier League since mid-September, was not snapped among those taking part in training. The Dutchman, though, was snapped meeting fans at the training ground earlier in the day.

However, youngsters James McConnell, Kaide Gordon and Amara Nallo were all involved.

Bradley back

After such an injury-affected campaign, it was perhaps not a surprise to see more Liverpool players pull up lame during the last few weeks. Bobby Clark announced on Tuesday his campaign was already over while Diogo Jota has missed the last two games.

Conor Bradley suffered an ankle problem during the dismal defeat at home to Crystal Palace last month and has subsequently been sidelined.

But the Northern Ireland international was back in training on Thursday and will now be in contention for the weekend.

Bajectic continues

As well as no Jota and Clark, there was no sign of any other of Liverpool's walking wounded during the session.

Joel Matip is recovering from an ACL, Thiago Alcantara has barely played this season and is out with a hamstring complaint and Ben Doak has been missing since December with a knee issue.

Stefan Bajcetic, though, has been featuring for the under-21s of late and was among those being put through their paces.