Why Diogo Jota missed Liverpool training as Mohamed Salah finishes last

The Champions League is back at Anfield. After winning 3-1 away at AC Milan on their return to Europe’s elite competition last month, Liverpool host Serie A side Bologna in their first home outing in this year’s tournament on Wednesday night.

After beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 to go top of the Premier League on Saturday, Arne Slot’s men continued their preparations for their clash with the Serie A outfit at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday lunchtime.

Darwin Nunez and Andy Robertson were both involved after overcoming illness and a knock suffered against Wolves respectively. However, forwards Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa were both absent from proceedings.

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The ECHO were in attendance at the Reds’ training ground base ahead of Slot’s pre-match press conference. And beyond the headline injury absences, here’s what else we spotted…

Elliott watches on as Jota absence explained

Should Jota and Chiesa now find themselves on Liverpool’s injury list, they will join midfielder Harvey Elliott.

The England Under-21s international suffered a fractured foot during last month’s international break and remains sidelined as a result. Consequently, he was understandably not involved in training on Tuesday.

However, the ECHO spotted the 21-year-old in the gym at the AXA Training Centre, by the window looking out to the pitches, as he bounced a football around, no doubt itching to be back on the grass with his team-mates. Yet such a return is not close just yet.

The ECHO reported last month that Elliott was believed to be hopeful of getting back on the pitch on the other side of the October international break, with the Reds due to meet Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday 20 October.

Meanwhile, Sky Sports reported that Jota's absence was the result of a foot injury with the forward undergoing scans as a result. While they came back clear, Liverpool were taking no chances with the Portuguese in training on Tuesday.

Slot will offer an update on both the striker and Chiesa during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Gravenberch form continues

Ryan Gravenberch has been Liverpool’s star man so far this season, shining as the Reds’ new number six after they missed out on signing Martin Zubimendi.

Named man of the match in Liverpool’s win over Wolves, it appears such form even extends to training games.

In one exercise at the AXA Training Centre, players were required to hold a pole in front of them with two hands, before darting to the side to pick up a tennis ball placed on a cone and then sprinting to cross the finish line.

Split into four teams, this inevitably brought out the competitive nature in the Reds’ playing squad.

After seeing Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold claim victory for their respective teams, Gravenberch crossed the line first to win the third round - much to the surprise of his captain.

“Ryan?!” Virgil van Dijk shouted in disbelief. “Wait a second…”

Whether he was questioning such a result or not, Gravenberch certainly can’t put a foot wrong at the moment.

Salah slip-up

While Gravenberch might have been an unlikely winner in the eyes of his team-mates during such an exercise, they took great delight in Mohamed Salah finishing last when it was his own turn to step up.

The Egyptian uncharacteristically dropped the tennis ball when going to pick it up before slipping, ensuring he finished fourth behind his team-mates. Cue jeers and laughs from his high-spirited colleagues, who are inevitably accustomed to the forward flourishing across the board.

There were no such jeers when Salah missed an open goal against Wolves on Saturday, at least not from those of a Reds persuasion, though he made amends by scoring the winner from the penalty spot in the second half.

Best to get it out of your system early, Mo. Fingers crossed he can get the last laugh again on Wednesday. After all, if left without both Jota and Chiesa, the opportunity for rotation is rather limited.

Nyoni on standby

Trey Nyoni was again training with the Liverpool first team on Wednesday and could find himself in contention to feature against Bologna as a result.

The 17-year-old was left out of the matchday squad when the Reds beat West Ham United in the League Cup last week, in what had been perceived to be the midfielder’s best opportunity for senior action. He had sat out the Under-21s Football League Trophy draw with Harrogate Town the night before after all.

Liverpool Under-19s are in UEFA Youth League action against Bologna at the Academy on Wednesday lunchtime. Should Nyoni be involved, he is set to captain the side, having worn the armband for their opening 0-0 draw away at AC Milan.

However, as one of 23 players training at the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday, he could find himself included in Slot’s first team squad given the fact that the Dutchman can name 12 substitutes for European action.

Of course, the Reds aren’t obligated to make full use of their 23-man quota, with it possible that Nyoni is still fielded in the Youth League instead. But with Jota and Chiesa both injury doubts, the midfielder is on standby to be involved at the very least.