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15 photos from inside Liverpool training as Reds prepare for 6 possible milestones

Arne Slot put his players through their paces on the eve of their clash against AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night, a match which could bring up a number of milestones.

After a season out of the competition, the Reds return to the premier European competition against a familiar foe in Milan.

It will be Slot’s first time leading the team out in the Champions League and he is not short on options for his matchday squad after 24 players trained at the AXA on Monday afternoon.

Harvey Elliott was the only absentee as, thankfully, the weekend’s result was not compounded by any fitness issues.

And talking about fitness, the medicine ball – which has been prominent since Slot and Ruben Peeters came in – made for quite the selection of images as we got a look inside training.

Alexis Mac Allister had a little smile before hoisting the 4kg ball into the air, but things were a little more strained for Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister with a medicine ball during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Miland and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez with a medicine ball during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

And we cannot be surprised by Mo Salah looking as chilled as ever, it must have felt like a feather to him.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

Slot kept a close eye on his players throughout, hopefully thinking about the changes he is to make to his starting XI.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Miland and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Miland and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

Federico Chiesa is unlikely to be among them, but he continues to train strongly and could be named in the squad for the first time.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Joe Gomez (L) and new signing Federico Chiesa during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Miland and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's new signing Federico Chiesa during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

There were no academy players involved in the session, including Amara Nallo, Trey Nyoni and Tom Hill despite the trio being named in the 24-man Champions League squad.

With the Reds back in the UEFA Youth League, Nallo and Nyoni are expected to feature for the U19s on Tuesday afternoon against Milan.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Tyler Morton during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

Tyler Morton is one who will be hoping for game time in the near future having remained at the club at the end of the transfer window, the midfielder has yet to be involved in a matchday squad.

It will be interesting to see if Andy Robertson starts again at left-back or if Kostas Tsimikas comes into the team for his first start this season.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (L) and Andy Robertson during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Miland and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker (L) and captain Virgil van Dijk during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

Virgil van Dijk, meanwhile, is in line for his 50th game for Liverpool in Europe – but he is not the only one sitting on a potential milestone.

Szoboszlai could play his 50th game for the Reds, Nunez his 100th and Diogo Jota could reach 150 for the club.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's Diogo Jota during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Miland and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's (L-R) Jarell Quansah, Cody Gakpo and Conor Bradley during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

The team will soon travel to Italy, and there Slot will front the press for his pre-match press conference (6.30pm BST), where he is expected to be joined by a member of his squad.

The trip to Milan is the first of eight games for Liverpool in the new-look Champions League format.


Liverpool squad in pre-Milan training

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool's new signing Federico Chiesa (2nd from R) during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between AC Miland and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jon Super/Propaganda)

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher, Jaros, Davies

Defenders: Konate, Van Dijk, Quansah, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Tsimikas, Bradley

Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Endo, Morton

Forwards: Salah, Chiesa, Jota, Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo