Curtis Jones has been ruled out of Liverpool’s trip to Burnley having previously been expected to start, with Arne Slot providing a fitness update.
Jones could realistically have been considered to start as part of Slot’s midfield at Turf Moor on Sunday, having not been called up for England duty.
But it transpires that the 24-year-old will now miss out entirely having picked up a new injury in the 1-0 win over Arsenal before the international break.
Speaking to reporters at the AXA Training Centre on Friday, Slot revealed that the squad was otherwise near fully fit.
“We train today for the first time with most of them. The non-internationals trained with the U21s this week already,” he explained.
“Curtis Jones of course, I don’t know if you knew, got injured in the last game. So he will not be available for the game against Burnley.
“But I think the rest of them came back without a problem, and that’s not always the situation.
“Especially at the beginning of the season where everybody comes from a different background, going to the national team where they then all of a sudden have to play two games in four or five days, which is always the biggest risk.
“In October, November and March they are much more used to that programme.
“So we are happy that they are fit, and again, compliment not only to the Swedish manager [for resting Alexander Isak] but also the others, because a few others like Ryan Gravenberch only started one game and not both of them.”
Jeremie Frimpong has recovered from a hamstring injury and was part of the small group of senior players working with the U21s throughout the week.
Meanwhile Stefan Bajcetic is back working outdoors following surgery on his hamstring in May and is likely to build up his game time with academy football in the coming weeks.
The biggest concern beyond Jones may come with Alexis Mac Allister, who was not 100 percent fit heading into duty with Argentina but still played 90 minutes in their 1-0 loss to Ecuador on Tuesday night.
But with Slot having more options available at right-back, the likelihood is that Dominik Szoboszlai can join Gravenberch – rested for the Netherlands – and Florian Wirtz in midfield at the weekend.