Wataru Endo was filmed training away from the Liverpool squad on Friday after being left out of Japan’s friendlies this month due to an unspecified injury.
Endo did not lead his country against Paraguay and Brazil due to a hamstring injury, with the midfielder staying at the AXA Training Centre for treatment.
He was pictured watching Japan’s win over Brazil alongside Alisson in the gym over the break, and once the full squad returned, he remained on the periphery.
Arne Slot did not provide an update on the 32-year-old’s fitness in his pre-Man United press conference on Friday, but the club’s cameras showed him training separately from the group.
Endo took to the outdoor pitches for an individual session to cast doubt on his chances of being fit enough for the bench on Sunday.
Thankfully for Liverpool, Ryan Gravenberch and Ibrahima Konate appeared to train as normal after their respective fitness issues over the international break.
Liverpool squad in training on Friday
Goalkeepers: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Pecsi
Defenders: Van Dijk, Gomez, Konate, Lucky, Robertson, Kerkez, Bradley, Frimpong
Midfielders: Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Jones, Nyoni, Endo*
Forwards: Salah, Isak, Gakpo, Ekitike, Chiesa, Ngumoha
Injured: Alisson, Leoni, Bajcetic, Danns
*Individual training
Prior to training, Slot had told reporters: “Ibou has come back to us, started his sessions again, and expected to train with us today.”
As for Gravenberch, he said, “Ryan is completely fit, although we still have to train twice. But if you ask me now, he is completely fit.”
It leaves Slot with a relatively healthy squad as domestic action returns, with Alisson and Giovanni Leoni the notable senior absentees against Man United.
Academy defender Wellity Lucky was drafted into training on Friday, with the 19-year-old centre-back boosting the defensive options after Leoni’s season-ending injury.
The teenager has previously trained with the first team but has yet to be named in a matchday squad.
• READ: Liverpool lineups vs. Man United with Slot facing 2 big decisions
With Gravenberch and Konate both passing as fit, you sense Slot’s starting lineup is rather straightforward, with the only questionable decisions coming at right-back and up top.
Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are the contenders for the former, while Hugo Ekitike will hope to get the nod over Alexander Isak up top after the Swede played 180 minutes compared to his 80 over the break.
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