Liverpool fitness update: Which players are in danger of missing the Champions League fina

Little more than a week after the final game of their Premier League season, Liverpool have travelled to Marbella for a warm weather training camp.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has taken a 26-man squad to Spain as the Reds’ preparations for the Champions League final intensify.

Having suffered injury problems ahead of the remarkable semi-final win over Barcelona, Klopp is hopeful of having a fully fit squad for the final in Madrid.

Strikers Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino missed the second leg against Barca, leaving Klopp with prolific Senegal forward Sadio Mane as the only available striker who was a first-team regular.

Salah was ruled out of the semi-final with concussion sustained during a collision in Liverpool’s final away game of the season at Newcastle.

The 22-goal forward finished as the top scorer in the Premier League for a second successive season, although this time he was matched by Mane and Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Official regulations meant that although Salah felt he was fit to play in the semi-final, he was barred from taking part as a precaution stipulated by rules around concussion injuries.

Alongside Salah, Roberto Firmino is Liverpool’s top scorer in the Champions League, having found the net four times during the European campaign.

The Brazilian striker has missed Liverpool’s last two matches with a thigh injury but appears to be back in contention after travelling with his team-mates for training.

Midfielder Naby Keita departed injured during the first leg of the semi-final, when Liverpool lost 3-0 at Camp Nou to give themselves a mountain to climb in the return leg.

The 24-year-old had been expected to miss the rest of the season but is said to be ahead of schedule in his comeback, meaning he could play a part against Tottenham.

Keita had been expected to miss the rest of the season when he limped off three weeks ago, but is currently ahead of schedule with his rehab.

Klopp has spoken of the importance of his players maintaining their fitness ahead of the final, saying: “Alisson and Virgil van Dijk have had the biggest impact because they have played in almost all the games.

“Players such as Fabinho and Shaqiri are very important parts of the team, too.

“They are not at the top of their game, but they’ve made important steps in their development.

“This is why we feel like we are only at the start, and that there is still a lot to come.”

A change in Champions League rules has provided Klopp with a boost ahead of the final match of the season at Estadio Metropolitano.

Liverpool can include up to 23 players in their final squad, but they can now also name as many as 12 substitutes.

The Champions League and Europa League had restricted teams to seven substitutes before the start of this season.

If the final goes to extra time, Klopp and opposite number Mauricio Pochettino will be able to make an extra substitute on top of the standard three they are allowed.

Klopp admitted: “In the Champions League there are no easy games, so why should the final be easy? Certainly not.

“So far we’ve always used our experience in these moments, during every moment in our season. That’s what we have to do.”

source: express.co.uk