Alexander Isak remained among the players absent for Liverpool as they stepped up their preparations for the Champions League showdown against Real Madrid on Tuesday. But Curtis Jones has returned to training having missed the last two games with a groin problem.

Isak hasn’t featured since being replaced at half-time of the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt a fortnight ago having complained of groin discomfort.

And the striker remained missing when Liverpool were put through their paces for the session at the AXA Training Centre on Monday afternoon.

The Sweden international now faces a race against time to be available for Sunday’s Premier League visit to Manchester City.

Hamstrung duo Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong remain out while centre-back Giovanni Leoni is sidelined for the season after ACL surgery.

Liverpool’s senior squad was joined during the training session by a number of Academy players including Kaide Gordon, Wellity Lucky, Calvin Ramsay and Tommy Pilling.

The Reds have six points from three games in the Champions League opening stage while Real Madrid have a 100% record so far in this season’s competition.

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