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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, February 17, 2020: Liverpool's Sadio Mané (L) and Naby Keita during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Liverpool FC. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Naby Keita returns to training with Liverpool all smiles at Melwood

Naby Keita is back in first-team training after a hip injury, with Liverpool showing no signs of negativity as they prepare for the visit of Bournemouth.

The Guinean has missed the last two games due to a sore hip, in the latest of a series of setbacks in his stop-start time with the Reds so far.

It prompted more questions over his reliability, particularly as Jurgen Klopp made a host of changes for the FA Cup fifth-round trip to Chelsea, for which Keita would likely have started if fit.

Given Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struggled to make an impact in the 3-0 humiliation at Watford last time out in the league, it could be that Klopp rotates his midfield again this weekend.

And with Keita involved in training at Melwood on Thursday, the manager could turn to his No. 8 against a side he has dominated in the past.

West Ham (four times) are the only side Keita has faced more than Bournemouth (three) in the Premier League, and so far he has enjoyed a 100 percent winning record over the Cherries.

The 3-0 win at Dean Court on December 7 saw him score one and assist another, and this was followed by goals against RB Salzburg and Monterrey in the following 11 days.

They are his only direct goal contributions this season, and Keita will be hoping another meeting with Eddie Howe’s side could spark another productive run.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, October 1, 2019: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp (L) and first-team development coach Pepijn Lijnders during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Group E match between Liverpool FC and FC Salzburg. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Klopp oversaw a lively session in the sunshine, with the squad all smiles as their optimistic approach continues amid a run of three defeats in four games—rightly so, as Virgil van Dijk put things into perspective.

There appear to be no new injury issues, with Keita’s comeback leaving just Jordan Henderson and Xherdan Shaqiri on the absentees list.

Henderson is hoping to be involved in the Champions League last 16 decider at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, with plenty of time still for the captain to recover.

Neco Williams, Curtis Jones, Pedro Chirivella and Harvey Elliott stayed with the first team as the under-23s are not in action again until Tuesday, and at least one could be in the matchday squad against Bournemouth.

Klopp is expected to make another raft of changes with Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Fabinho and Sadio Mane the most likely to keep their places from the loss at Stamford Bridge.

The manager will provide a more accurate assessment of the fitness of his squad in his pre-match press conference on Friday, which will be held at 1.30pm (GMT).


Liverpool Squad in Training on Thursday

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, February 17, 2020: Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Liverpool FC. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Defenders: Van Dijk, Gomez, Matip, Lovren, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Williams

Midfielders: Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Milner, Jones, Chirivella

Forwards: Salah, Firmino, Mane, Origi, Minamino, Elliott

* Goalkeepers trained separately.